(1. Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China) (2. Key Laboratory of Material Gene Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China) (3. National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Metal Solidification Forming and Equipment Technology, Kunming, 650093, China)
As the wear resistant skeleton, strengthening phases (hard phases) play a vital role in the performance of the wear-resistant steels. In recent years, the experimental researches on the strengthening phases in the wear-resistant steels mainly focus on the morphology control and mechanical properties of the strengthening phases. There are no comprehensive researches on its thermal properties such as thermal expansion and thermal conductivity, and the high-temperature mechanical and thermal properties of the strengthening phases are basically blank. The experimental research status of strengthening phases in wear-resistant steels and the application of computational materials in strengthening phases are summarized. Firstprinciples calculations based on quantum mechanics are proposed to study the effect of alloy elements on the structure, mechanical and thermal properties of hard phases in wear-resistant steels from the electronic level, taking high chromium cast iron and high speed steel as research objects. The nano-scale atomic and electronic behavior is linked to microstructures and properties of micro-scale materials through advanced characterization methods. Therefore, the types and properties of hard phases could be selected and controlled purposefully. Finally, the mutual verification of composition design, performance calculation and experiment research of wear-resistant materials is achieved. The relevant researches provide some valuable data for establishing database of microstructure and properties of hard phases in wear-resistant steels, and lay a foundation for designing new wear-resistant steels materials.