Microstructure and mechanical properties of high boron white cast iron with about 4 wt% chromium

The microstructure and mechanical properties of high boron white cast irons with about 4 wt% chromium before and after treating with rare earth magnesium alloy were studied in this article. The experimental results indicate that the cast irons comprise a dendritic matrix and interdendritic eutectic borides M₂B and M′_0.9Cr_1.1B_0.9 that distributed in the form of continuous network in as-cast condition. The matrix is made up of fine pearlite in the alloys with and without modification, but the grain size of the matrix is decreased greatly after modification. After water quenching at 1,303 K and tempering at 473 K, the matrix of the alloy mostly changes to lath-type martensite. For the alloy without modification the boride morphology remains almost unchanged after heat treatment. And a secondary precipitation of M₂₃(C,B)₆ compound appears in the central region of dentritic matrix grains. The morphology of the eutectic borides is changed to the form of isolated blocks after heat treatment and there is only little intragranular M₂₃(B,C)₆ particles in the matrix are found in the alloy modified with rare earth magnesium alloy. The modification by rare earth magnesium alloy can refine the primary austenite and the eutectic borides. Combined with a high austenitizing temperature the modification can improve the morphology of the borides which results in the improvement of toughness and tensile strength.