THE USE OF BORON ELEMENT FOR COST REDUCTION IN TEETH MADE

OF LOW ALLOY STEEL USED IN EXCAVATORS

Muhammed KIRICI

Motus Automotive Company, Konya, Turkey

Konya Technical University, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Konya, Turkey

Keywords: Boron Steel, Low Alloy Steel, Bucket Teeth of Excavator, Ground Engaging Tools

Abstract
The effects on the mechanical properties by reducing expensive alloying elements and adding boron (0.003-0.005 wt %) to
alloy for excavator teeth were investigated. The study concluded that: the tensile strength of modified alloy was found to be
1757±24 MPa, yield strength 1613±29 MPa, % elongation value of 3. The amount of energy absorbed by the sample was
found to be 27±3 joules. Hardness measurements were made from the outside to the inside of a thick section of the tooth.
While the hardness on the surface (under decarburized structure) was 51 HRC, the value of 47±2 HRC was also obtained in
the innermost region.

1. Introduction
Excavators are often used in the mining and construction projects. The most important parts used in excavators are the
bucket teeth. They are generally produced from martensitic steels except for Hadfield steels. They are expected to have
good penetration, strength, abrasion and impact resistance, as well as a long service life. Achieving all these properties
together is costly for manufacturers. One of the ways to reduce these costs is modification in alloy. Therefore, in the study;
reduction of Mo element has been studied by using boron element.

2. Materials and Methods

The chemical composition of the modified alloy by weight includes 0,3% C, 1,5% Si, 1,5% Mn, 1% Cr, 0,25% Ni, 0,10%
Mo and 0,003% B. Normalizing, hardening and tempering heat treatments were applied to the teeth produced by sand
casting method. Tensile, Charpy (notch) Impact and Hardness tests were applied to the samples. Tensile and impact tests
were performed on samples obtained from Keel blocks and hardness measurements were also made from the surface of the
bucket teeth to the center. All tests were performed at room temperature. Also, microstructure analysis was carried out.

3. Conclusion
As a result of experimental studies; the mechanical properties of the modified alloy were found to be very close the old
alloy. When comparing the new alloy with the old alloy for mechanical tests; it was determined that the tensile strength
decreased by 1% and the yield strength increased by 1,32%, as Figure 1-a. It was found that the impact absorption energy,
decreased by 38,7%, as Figure 1-b. In microstructure analysis; it is noticed that in the outermost part of the tooth, lath
martensite is formed, as shown in Figure 1-c. The hardness value of this region has already 51 HRC value. The average
hardness value measured from the inner part in the same direction was determined as 47±2 HRC. Considering efficient
usage surface/depth of the tooth, it was concluded that the hardness decreasing in the inner region is not significant.

a b c

Figure 1. Results of experimental studies (a) Tensile test (b) Charpy Test (c) Microstructure