Bimetallic Castings for Wear Performance through Infiltration of Additive Manufactured Metal Lattice Structures

High chromium white iron is an alloy frequently employed in the production of abrasion resistive wear components. Ground engaging components for mining or earthmoving frequently require such materials, as well as slurry pumps for mining applications. Although high chromium white iron alloy demonstrates excellent wear performance due to the formation of chromium carbides, it is brittle and lacks toughness. Impact resistance is often of great importance for ground engaging wear components; hence, this study will investigate a method by which high chromium white iron wear components may be reinforced by the formation of a bimetallic composite. In this research, an additively manufactured lattice structure of 316L stainless steel is infiltrated with high chromium white iron via the metal casting process. This procedure results in a bimetallic casting of reinforced white iron. Complete infiltration and metallurgical diffusion bonding were observed between the two alloys, validating this method as a means of reinforcing high chromium white iron castings for applications requiring high abrasion and impact resistance.