Infiltration Casting and In Situ Fabrication of (Fe,Cr)7C3 Particulates Bundle – Reinforced Iron Matrix Composites

The method of infiltration casting plus heat treatment process employing chromium wires and cast iron applied to in-situ synthesized (Fe,Cr)₇C₃ particulates bundle reinforced iron matrix composites. The phase analysis, microstructure, microhardness and wear-resistance of composite were observed and measured. The results show that it is possible to fabricate (Fe,Cr)₇C₃ particulates bundle reinforced iron matrix composite produced by this technology, and a special structure which called particulates bundle was fabricated. (Fe,Cr)₇C₃ particulates bundle were distributed in the forms of granular, lath-shaped and hexagon-shaped in the particulates bundle. The macrohardness of particulates bundle was 52 HRC, and the relative wear resistance of the composites is 2.3—23 times higher than that of the cast iron.