Effects of Electroslag Remelting and Alloying Elements on Microstructure and Properties of Wheel Steel

The microstructure of forged and quenched-tempered wheel steels was compared and analyzed. The effects of electroslag remelting, alloying elements Mn and Si on the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the quenched-tempered wheel steels were studied. The results showed that electroslag remelting (ESR) was helpful to refine bainite structure in the forged wheel steel, but the grain size increased from grade 6 in ESR to grade 3 in non ESR. The microstructure of quenched-tempered steel A (ESR) and steel B (non ESR) was tempered sorbite. The grain sizes of the quenched-tempered steel A and steel B were grade 6 and grade 7 respectively. Compared with the quenched-tempered steel A, the quenched-tempered steel B had higher strength and Brinell hardness, and slightly lower impact absorbed energy at -40℃ and elongation. When the mass fraction of Mn increased from 0.63% to 1.06% or the mass fraction of Si increased from 0.31% to 0.69%, the strength, Brinell hardness and corrosion resistance of the quenched-tempered wheel steels increased, but the elongation and impact absorbed energy at -40℃ decreased.