Improvement of mechanical properties by means of titanium alloying to steel teeth used in the excavator

Abstract

The effect of Ti addition (0.15 and 0.20 wt%) on mechanical properties and wear resistance of steel excavator bucket teeth was investigated. Teeth were produced by commercial sand casting technique. After production normalizing, hardening, and tempering heat treatment procedures were applied to the teeth. Lath martensitic microstructure was observed and small amount of carbide particles were present in the microstructures of Ti containing ones. In addition, small amount of hard and brittle TiN particles were observed in the microstructure of 0.20 wt% Ti containing teeth. The best mechanical properties were obtained for 0.15 wt% Ti containing teeth with considerably high abrasive wear resistance. However, 0.20 wt% Ti containing teeth exhibited worst abrasive wear resistance and limited ductility due to the formation of TiN particles.

Keywords

• Microstructure
• Martensite
• Mechanical properties
• Wear