Status of Metallurgical Techniques Practiced by Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers for Fast Wearing Components in India

The fast wearing components of agricultural machinery requires frequent replacement, which affects the work output as well as the quality of the equipment. Metallurgical techniques such as material selection, bulk hardening and surface modification are quite preventing for enhancing service life of these components. The study reveals that only 41% manufacturers were using steel conforming to BIS recommendations, based on the carbon percentage. The tested samples could be categorized in to mild steel (10%), medium carbon steel (56%), high carbon steel (28%) and high carbon tool steel (6%). The heat-treatment was observed in rotavator blades, disc, chaff cutter blades and sickle blades. But due to improper heat-treatment the grains of tempered martensite were found coarse. Except in case of export, the manufacturers do not undertake chemical, mechanical and micro structural testing. Heat-treatment has not been a part of their facilities.