Abstract

High-chromium (14-30%) cast iron alloy samples, with variations in the carbon and nickel content, were prepared in order to study their hardness, resilience, corrosion resistance, and wear behaviour by means of simulating the conditions found at the sugar industry processes. Microstructural characterisation of alloys was made by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical trials in order to assess corrosion susceptibility were performed with a specific sugar solution. Chemical analyses were carried out using atomic absorption to evaluate the deterioration with regard to the attack to chemical composition of alloys, wear, ionic solutions, and the microstructural changes undergone by the different alloys employed. The behaviour of alloys to wear and corrosion depends mainly on the chemical composition and effect of the alloying elements, the formation of carbides during solidification, and the presence of impurities and inclusions at a surface level. The results obtained in this study made possible the selection of better alloys, which can be employed at the sugar industry, such as 0.97C-29.5Cr-1.84Ni which has a high chromium content. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.