Effect of Heat Treatment on Wear Rate of Different Agricultural Grade Steels and Associated Cost Economics

An investigation was conducted to study the effect of heat treatment processes on agricultural grade steels to enhance their life and associated cost economics. Three different types of agricultural grade steels (mild steel (MS), medium carbon steel (MCS) and medium carbon low alloy steel (MCLAS)) underwent heat-treatment processes. MS was carburized (950°C for 720 min), MCS and MCLAS were austenised at 900 and 850°C for 120 min. These steels were oil quenched and tempered at 200, 300 and 400°C. The steel specimens were evaluated in laboratory condition using dry sand abrasion tester before and after heat-treatment. Effect of heat-treatments on abrasive wear, hardness and associated cost economics were studied. The results exhibit that under heat untreated conditions, wear rate of MCS and MCLAS were 13.10% and 32.33% less than that of MS. Whereas, under heat treated specimens wear rate reduced by 18.83%, 36.94% and 48.13% in MS, MCS and MCLAS, respectively. The hardness of all steels after heat treatment was found to increase more than two fold. Enhancement in the life of the selected steels were found to be 64.83% higher in case of MCLAS followed by 45.15% in case of MCS over MS. Maximum increase was seen in cost of 70/kg and 45/kg in MCLAS and MCS at 200°C tempering temperatures, respectively.