SiO2 particle erosion of spheroidal graphite cast iron after surface remelting by the plasma transferred arc process

Two spheroidal graphite cast irons of the same composition (Fe 3.54 wt.%-C 2.48 wt.%-Si) and different graphite nodule counts were surface hardened by plasma transferred are surface remelting. They were then eroded by angular SiO2 particles (similar to 295 mum grit size) under two average particle velocities including similar to 36 and similar to 66 m s(-1). According to the results, the presence of eutectic Fe3C in the remelted layer can improve the erosion resistance at oblique impact by increasing the flow resistance; but the eutectic Fe3C particles are also subjected to brittle cracking under large-angle impact. Hence, while oblique impact shows larger improvement of the erosion resistance with increasing content of eutectic Fe3C, large-angle impact indicates that the improvement can be achieved only when the content of eutectic Fe3C and the particle velocity are properly restricted. Brittleness effect of eutectic Fe3C also causes the maximum erosion rate to occur at larger impact angle for the remelted layer of more eutectic Fe3C. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.