From the present study, niobium additions of 1.79% and 3.98% were added to a 15% Cr–3% C white iron, and their effects on the microstructure, hardness and abrasive wear were analyzed. The experimental irons were melted in an open induction furnace and cast into sand molds to obtain bars of 45 mm diameter. The alloys were characterized by optical and electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Bulk hardness was measured in the as-cast conditions and after a destabilization heat treatment at 900 °C for 30 min. Abrasive wear resistance tests were undertaken for the different irons according to the ASTM G65 standard in both as-cast and heat-treated conditions under three loads (58, 75 and 93 N). The results show that niobium additions caused a decrease in the carbon content in the alloy and that some carbon is also consumed by forming niobium carbides at the beginning of the solidification process; thus decreasing the eutectic M₇C₃ carbide volume fraction (CVF) from 30% for the base iron to 24% for the iron with 3.98% Nb. However, the overall carbide content was constant at 30%; bulk hardness changed from 48 to 55 hardness Rockwell C (HRC) and the wear resistance was found to have an interesting behavior. At the lowest load, wear resistance for the base iron was 50% lower than that for the 3.98% Nb iron, which is attributed to the presence of hard NbC. However, at the highest load, the wear behavior was quite similar for all the irons, and it was attributed to a severe carbide cracking phenomenon, particularly in the as-cast alloys. After the destabilization heat treatment, the wear resistance was higher for the 3.98% Nb iron at any load; however, at the highest load, not much difference in wear resistance was observed. Such a behavior is discussed in terms of the carbide volume fraction (CVF), the amount of niobium carbides, the amount of martensite/austenite in matrix and the amount of secondary carbides precipitated during the destabilization heat treatment.

The present work analyzes the effect of 0.7%Ti and 1.7%W addition to a 17% chromium white iron in as-cast condition and after destabilization heat treatment. These alloys are commonly used in applications where a high abrasive wear resistance is required. For this reason, in addition to the characterization, a complementary wear test was performed. The alloys were characterized by optical and electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The simultaneous Ti and W addition promoted the (Ti,W)C primary carbides formation which grow in the early stages of solidification. These carbides were found well distributed in the iron matrix with an average hardness value of 2450 HV. Moreover, tungsten was found partially distributed in the different phases increasing the microhardness by solid solution and refining the eutectic carbide. These microstructural modifications resulted in the increase of the bulk hardness and abrasive wear resistance of the alloyed iron. After destabilization heat treatment, the carbide precipitation and the matrix transformation produced a secondary hardening reducing the wear losses. Based in the results of the present study, the simultaneous addition of these elements to promote the (Ti,W)C carbide formation during solidification represents an effective method to increase the hardness and wear resistance of these kind of alloys via small additions.