Influence of Niobium Addition on Microstructure and Machinability of High Chromium Cast Iron

High Chromium Cast Iron (HCCI) is mostly utilised in environments under severe abrasion and corrosion wear conditions, research on this material with added niobium obtained positive results regarding resistance. The casting process has surface finish dimensional accuracy limitations compared to machining processes. There are too few studies about HCCI machinability no one additions. may allow new applications for when excellent high required. This study analyses the influence of 0.5% Nb addition microstructure a alloy 25.6% Cr 3.2% C. samples were heat treated subsequently machined dry cutting conditions. Annealing was used facilitate pre-machining samples, which later quenched tempered. Microstructure hardness analysed at each stage treatment. after tempered using polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (pcBN) tools. alloys solidified hypereutectic condition. reduced carbide volumetric fraction, increased service life tools all tests, provided better finishing modified mechanisms.