Metal-Matrix Composites and Thermal Spray Coatings for Earth Moving Machines

Weaver, D. Trent ; Kiser, Matthew T. ; Zok, Frank W. ; Levi, Carlos G. ; Hawk, Jeffrey

Caterpillar Inc.

关键词: Steels;    Stresses;    Casting;    Processing;    36 Materials Science;   

DOI  :  10.2172/833402
RP-ID  :  NONE
RP-ID  :  FC26-01NT41054
RP-ID  :  833402

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

In an effort to realize minimum of a 2x increase in wear life of ground engaging components used on mining machines, two potentially cost effective processes were explored for the production of tailored, highly abrasion resistant materials: (1) hybrid pressure casting of steel composites, and (2) arc lamp fusing of thermal spray coatings. Steel composites comprised of cermet or oxide hard particles were successfully produced using pressure casting processes, although a cost effective process has not yet been identified for oxide particles. Both composites achieved project wear targets in high stress gouging wear, but the cermet composites did not meet the targets in impact wear, due to poor matrix toughness resulting from particle dissolution. Oxide composites had superior toughness and are expected to meet impact wear goals. Arc lamp processing of thermal spray coatings was successfully demonstrated to produce a metallurgical bond at the coating interface. Functionally graded materials were developed and successfully fused to allow for the accommodation of thermal process stresses in an intermediate layer. Ultimately, three functionally graded materials were identified as having high stress, three-body abrasion resistance sufficient to exceed project goals.