Abstract

The good results obtained by cast iron with Cr and Cr-Ni investigated in the making of part for pumping equipment in sugar cane industry are given. Cast iron alloy coupons were prepared in order to study their hardness, resilience, corrosion resistance, and wear-out 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 the electrochemical trials in order to assess corrosion susceptibility were performed with a specific sugar solution. The behaviour of alloys to wear-out 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 0.78 C-33, 5 Cr-7.7 Ni which have a highchromium content. This material implies a considerable economic saving for sugar industry.