Operation-oriented studies on wear properties of surface-hardened alloy cast steels used in mining in the conditions of the combined action of dynamic forces and an abrasive material

This paper presents the results of wear tests of shot-peened and not shot-peened cast steels used in the mining machinery industry, in particular in the construction of chain drums for armoured face conveyors. Wear tests were carried out in the conditions corresponding to the real operating conditions of armoured face conveyors during drifting work in rocks such as sandstone. The operating factors subjected to the analyses included the presence of quartz abrasive and the impact of external dynamic forces. On the basis of the wear tests as well as the microhardness and microstructure examinations performed, it has been found that the action of an additional dynamic force has a synergistic impact on the process of abrasive wear in loose quartz abrasive. It has been further found that the value of abrasive wear of chain wheels operated in the conditions of a combined action of abrasive and a dynamic force depends on whether the area of mating of wheels with the chain was shot-peened or not before the wear tests - an increase in the abrasive wear was observed for the wheels made of cast steel subjected to shot peening in the area of mating with the chain. Lower resistance to abrasive wear of the cast steels subjected to shot peening before the wear tests could result from the formation of cracks in the surface layer caused by the action of shot.