Microstructural and mechanical properties of boron carbide (B4C) coated RDSO wear plate sample

Abstract

In this research, a comparative investigation was carried out on the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of boron carbide (B4C) coated RDSO (Research design & standard organization, India) approved steel sample and uncoated RDSO steel samples intended for applicable as wear plates of ballast cleaning machines which is a railways track maintenance machine. Wear plates of ballast cleaning machines are subjected to extreme abrasion & impact stresses because they directly come in contact with railways ballast. Microstructural examinations were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscope to characterize the coating’s homogeneity, adhesion, and interfacial bonding with the steel substrate. Mechanical tests, including hardness testing, tensile strength, and wear tests, were conducted to understand the coated sample’s performance compared to the uncoated counterpart. Results indicated that the average micro-hardness values, 428 ± 10 HV and 302 ± 10 HV was obtained using Vickers hardness test done on the samples B4C coated RDSO sample and uncoated RDSO sample respectively. The average coefficient of friction (COF) for the carbide-coated sample was 0.33 under a 10 N load, while the uncoated sample had a COF of 0.64. This demonstrates that the carbide coating greatly improves wear performance. This comparative analysis suggests that B4C-coated steel is a promising railways for wear plate applications in ballast cleaning machines, providing increased lifespan and better performance. © 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.