Evaluation of wear resistance of Cr40Co40Ni20 alloy with and without boron addition

• Grant number: 25/07362-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Physical Metallurgy
• Principal Investigator: Lucas Barcelos Otani
• Grantee: Hugo Perez Dias Rocha
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Cr40Co40Ni20 alloy is a variation of the CrCoNi system, classified as a multi-principal element alloy (or medium entropy alloy), known for its high mechanical strength and good ductility, making it suitable for applications in extreme conditions and environments. This composition exhibits the TRIP effect (Transformation Induced Plasticity), a mechanism also associated with the excellent wear resistance of Hadfield steels, which are widely studied in literature. Although CrCoNi alloys already show good performance under abrasive wear, there is still room for significant improvement, especially through the introduction of less-explored reinforcing elements such as borides. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the influence of boron addition on the abrasive wear resistance of the Cr40Co40Ni20, correlating microstructural aspects with the wear mechanisms involved. For this purpose, samples with different boron contents will be produced via arc melting, followed by thermomechanical treatments, and compared to samples obtained by spray forming. The methodology includes microstructural characterization, mechanical testing (microhardness and tensile tests), and wear tests. It is expected that boron addition will promote the formation of borides, enhancing wear resistance while controlling possible ductility losses, thus enabling the identification of more efficient compositions and processing routes for the simultaneous optimization of these properties and the overall material behavior. (AU)