Influence of Ta Amount on Wear Performance of Aged 17-4 PH Stainless Steel Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy

In this study, dry sliding wear behaviors of 17-4 PH stainless steel (SS) alloys fabricated by powder metallurgy were investigated. Alloys containing different amounts of Ta were aged at 480 degrees C for three different times. After the aging treatment, the alloys were characterized with scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, density, and hardness. The parameters of the wear tests were 0.8 ms(-1) sliding speed, 30 and 45 N load, and five various sliding distances (600-3000 m). As a result of the study, it was found that the alloys produced by powder metallurgy had ferritic microstructures. Density and hardness values of 17-4 PH SS alloys containing various amounts of Ta were found to increase with increasing amount of Ta (after aging treatment). Also, microstructure examinations showed that M23C6 and M3C carbides were formed in the microstructure. The wear tests showed that the adhesive wear mechanism was the descent wear mechanism.