Comparison of laboratory and field abrasive wear tests*

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 81, No. 916, 1988

M. Fiset, Department of Mining and Metallurgy, Universite Laval, Quebec, Quebec, and D. Belley, Metal 7 Inc., Sept-lies, Quebec

In a country with a cold climate like Canada, the cost of replacing worn parts of snowplow equipment, such as blades, is enormous. A great number of these blades, with different mechanical properties, are available, but few studies have been made to facilitate their selection according to the optimum ratio of wear resistance to cost. To attain this objective, laboratory tests have been developed to correlate test results with those obtained from various road service conditions. The test materials, 1080 steel in different states, 1090 steel and D2 tool steel were chosen to cover a large range of hardness as well as different microstructures. Comparison of the wear resistance of the test materials relative to a standard revealed, in general, a good correlation between the results of laboratory cement wheel tests and those from the road tests. Scanning electron microscope wear scars of laboratory and road test specimens were compared to determine if similar removal material mechanisms were active.

Keywords: Equipment, Wear resistance, Abrasion tests, Heat treatment.