Investigations on Microstructures and Three-Body Abrasive Wear Behaviors of Fe-B Cast Alloy Containing Cerium

The effect of the element cerium on the microstructure and wear behavior of Fe-B cast alloy was investigated by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis, Leica digital image analysis, hardness tester and abrasion tester. The microstructures of as-cast Fe-B alloy are composed of the phase ferrite, pearlite and eutectic boride. Moreover, the as-cast eutectic boride structures in Fe-B alloy containing cerium are finer than that in the alloy having no cerium. After heat treatment, the average boride area and wear weight loss of the alloy containing cerium are lower than these of the alloy having no cerium. Before the formation of primary austenite, cerium can combine with oxygen to form Ce₂O₃. Ce₂O₃ can act as nuclei of primary austenite, promoting the refinement of austenite and borides during solidification, and improve the wear property of Fe-B alloy.