Wear and Corrosion Behavior of Functionally Graded Semi-Solid 9Cr18Mo Steel

A kind of 9Cr18Mo multidiameter shaft part was fabricated through a designed thixoforging set-up. As compared with conventional heat treatment specimen, wear and corrosion behavior of 9Cr18Mo thixoforging specimen were studied. The results showed the surface of 9Cr18Mo thixoforging specimen demonstrated fine wear and corrosion resistance. Thixoforging specimen exhibited functionally graded property with inner austenite particles and fine dendrite eutectic skin layer. At the skin layer, the former solidified liquid led to the concentration of alloying elements such as Cr and Mo. Besides, eutectic structure of secondary austenite and M7C3carbide helped to improve the hardness. The high hardness of M7C3carbide and high concentration of Cr, Mo elements at the edge skin layer contributed to reducing the delamination wear, abrasive wear and the appearance of oxidation. Even at higher wear load, relative sliding occurred at the wear surface, which avoided crack formation and chunk spalling. As compared with conventional heat treatment specimen, corrosion current density of thixoforging surface reduced, while corrosion potential increased. Thixoforging surface also exhibited passivation behavior and the corrosion resistance increased slightly. High concentration of Cr and Mo at the skin layer avoided the formation of chromium depleted zone. In view that wear and corrosion failure tend to occur at the surface of specimen, the thixoforging specimen with a wear and corrosion skin layer might provide a possibility for expanding the application fields of 9Cr18Mo steel.