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Analysis of Failure of Grinding Balls During Service

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Metal Science and Heat Treatment Aims and scope

Causes of failure of grinding balls with diameter 110 mm produced traditionally by forging, quenching and low-temperature tempering are considered. The chemical composition of the steel of the balls is studied using an energy dispersive spectrometer. The phase composition is studied with the help of a diffractometer. The fracture morphology, the structure, the type and the mechanism of fracture of the balls are studied using scanning electron and optical microscopes. The Rockwell hardness is measured. The content of retained austenite in the structure is calculated. The fracture is shown to be caused by inhomogeneity and large grain size of the austenite before quenching, by transformation of retained austenite into martensite during service, and by presence of slag inclusions. Practical recommendations are given for preventing cracking of balls during operation.

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Correspondence to Baoqi Wang.

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Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 2, pp. 59 – 65, February, 2022.

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Song, Z., Pu, Y., Liu, Z. et al. Analysis of Failure of Grinding Balls During Service. Met Sci Heat Treat 64, 127–133 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11041-022-00772-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11041-022-00772-3

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