M. Walter, G. Egels, J. Boes, A. Röttger, W. Theisen
August 19, 2016
Abstract
The tribological behaviour of work roll materials is a key issue during hot rolling process of metals. The characteristics of the material (hardness and wear resistance) at elevated temperatures are of great interest for many industrial applications. The study investigates the mechanical properties and the sliding wear behaviour of HS 6-5-3-5 (HSS) high-speed tool steel, which is a common work roll material of the intermediate and finishing stands of hot rolling manufacturing lines. Experimental analysis focuses on the mechanical properties of steel HS 6-5-3-5 at elevated temperatures and on the microstructural surface changes of this material during metallic sliding wear. The results give an overview about the absolute hardness value of HS 6-5-3-5 at elevated temperatures and its evolution at constant operating temperatures. To conclude interdependencies between mechanical properties, microstructure and wear behaviour at elevated temperatures, results are discussed and connected with wear investigations. Findings reveal that high temperature wear behaviour is mainly dependent on the formation of a tribochemical wear layer on the wear bodies' surfaces. Layers suppress direct metallic contact and change the characteristics of the tribological system. Discussed issues of high temperature sliding wear are the formation and stability of tribochemical wear layers, their connection to and support by the bulk material, as well as the fracturing and damage of the layer-bulk-material compound.