Neste trabalho, estudou-se a viabilidade da aplicação de revestimentos de ferro fundido branco multicomponente (FFBMC) pelo processo de aspersão térmica por chama hipersônica (HVOF). A melhor condição de aspersão, variando-se a vazão e razão dos gases oxigênio e propano, a distância de aspersão e a granulometria do pó, foi utilizada para aplicação dos revestimentos em substratos de aço e de FFBMC com e sem preaquecimento. Caracterizaramse os revestimentos de FFBMC em relação ao teor de carbono, temperatura final, espessura, porosidade, dureza, aderência, perda de massa, coeficiente de atrito e mecanismo de desgaste abrasivo. Os revestimentos com menor porosidade e maior dureza foram aqueles depositados com razão oxigênio/propano de 4,6, 200 mm de distância de aspersão e granulometria entre 20 e 45 μm. Com esses parâmetros obtiveram-se revestimentos com aderência de 84 MPa, em substratos de aço sem preaquecimento e temperatura final de 200 °C, sendo que o fator mais importante no valor da aderência foi a temperatura final do revestimento. Além disso, a perda de massa foi semelhante aos valores obtidos para amostras de FFBMC fundidas, temperadas e revenidas. Os fatores responsáveis por estes valores foram a eliminação da austenita retida e a sinterização das partículas do revestimento quando as amostras foram temperadas e revenidas. O mecanismo de desgaste predominante foi o microcorte associado à fratura das lamelas próximas das partículas não fundidas, poros de aspersão e dos vazios formados no processo de desgaste. Considerando os níveis de aderência e perda de massa obtidas neste trabalho é viável a aplicação de FFBM por aspersão térmica HVOF. / In this work, the viability of the application of multicomponent white cast iron coatings was studied using high velocity oxygen fuel thermal spray process. The best spray condition, varying the oxygen and propane flow rate, the oxygen/propane ratio, the spraying distance and the powder size, was used for the application of coatings in steel and multicomponent white cast iron substrates with and without preheating. Carbon content, final temperature, thickness, porosity, hardness, adherence, mass loss, friction coefficient and abrasive wear mechanism of the coatings were characterized. The coatings that presented lower porosity and greater hardness were those deposited with oxygen/propane ratio of 4.6, spraying distance of 200 mm and powder size between 20 and 45 μm. With these parameters, coatings with adherence of 84 MPa in steel substrate, without preheating and final temperature of 200 °C, were obtained. The final temperature was identified as the most important factor for the adherence value. Moreover, the coating mass loss was similar to the multi-component white cast iron substrate tempered and annealed. The factors responsible for the high adherence and lower mass loss were the elimination of the retained austenite and the sintering of particles of the coating when the samples were tempered and annealed. The predominant wear mechanism was microcutting associated with the fracture of the lamellae near to unmelted particles, pores of spraying process and the voids formed in the wear process. Considering the levels of adherence and mass loss verified in this work, the application of multicomponent white cast iron coatings using high velocity oxygen fuel thermal spray process is viable.

No description available.

Darbe analizuojamas abrazyvinio dilimo mechanizmas. Nustatomi šiems procesams didžiausią įtaką turintys veiksniai. Analizuojama abrazyvinių dalelių formos ir jų abrazyvumo vertinimo metodika. Apžvelgiami abrazyvinio dilimo modeliai. Abrazyvinių dalelių veikiami darbinių dalių paviršiai intensyviai dyla, todėl atsižvelgiant į jų darbo sąlygas būtina tinkamai parinkti jų savybes – kietumą, stiprumą bei sudėtį (legiravimą). Šių paviršių atnaujinimui ir sustiprinimui dažnai racionalu naudoti įvairios sudėties apvirinamus sluoksnius. Šio darbo tikslas – ištirti apvirintų kietųjų sluoksnių abrazyvinio dilimo ypatybes. Taip pat, ištirti lydinių abrazyvinio dilimo įtaką dylančio paviršiaus mikrogeometriniams parametrams. Atliktais tyrimais nustatyta legiruojančių elementų įtaka apvirintų sluoksnių abrazyviniam dilimui. Nustatyta optimali apvirinto sluoksnio sudėtis abrazyvinio dilimo sumažinimui. Tai pat nustatyta, kad termiškai apdirbtų plienų ir apvirintų sluoksnių dilimo atvejais nudilimas turi ryšį su paviršiaus parametru SPQP. Tuo remiantis, matuojant paviršiaus profilį, galima prognozuoti nudilimo dydį. / There is analysis of abrasive wear mechanism in this work. The most important factors in these processes were established. There are analysed technique of abrasive particles properties and abrasive wear models. Surfaces witch are under the abrasive sway wear very fast. Considering to working conditions of these surfaces it is necessarily to choose there properties – hardness, strength and composition. For renovation and fortify of these surfaces it is often rational hard facing. The aim of this work was to estimate the influence of alloying elements content to abrasive wear. And estimate the abrasive wear influence to micro geometry of wearing surface. The influence of alloying elements to abrasive wear was estimated. To decrease abrasive wear the optimal chromium content in the arc welded alloy was investigated. Clear influence of heat treated steels and arc welded alloys abrasive wear on surface profile quality parameter SPQP is estimated. Considering with that we can measure surface profile and predict the wear rates.

Ceramic metal composites, or cermets, currently have widespread applications in the chemical, automotive and oil and gas sectors, due to their combination of high wear resistance, and aqueous corrosion resistance. In the present study, a family of novel titanium carbide (TiC)-stainless steel cermets has been produced as potential materials for use as erosion and corrosion resistant materials. The development of the TiC-stainless steel cermets is based on a simple melt infiltration technique, with the stainless steel “binder” contents varied from 5 to 30 vol.%, using the austenitic grades 304L and 316L, and the martensitic grade 410L. These materials have subsequently been evaluated for their wear and corrosion response, as well as characterisation of their basic mechanical properties and microstructure. Results from wear and corrosion studies show an improvement in wear and corrosion resistance of the cermets at lower steel binder content . / The original abstract from thesis is below. Ceramic metal composites, or cermets, currently have widespread applications in the chemical, automotive and oil and gas sectors, due to their combination of high wear resistance, and aqueous corrosion resistance. In the present study, a family of novel titanium carbide (TiC)-stainless steel cermets has been produced as potential materials for use as erosion and corrosion resistant materials. The development of the TiC-stainless steel cermets is based on a simple melt infiltration technique, with the stainless steel “binder” contents varied from 5 to 30 vol.%, using the austenitic grades 304L and 316L, and the martensitic grade 410L. These materials have subsequently been evaluated for their wear and corrosion response, as well as characterisation of their basic mechanical properties and microstructure. Reciprocating wear tests involved a ball-on-flat geometry (using a WC-Co counter face sphere), with loads varied from 20 to 80 N, for up to 120 minutes. The wear tracks were assessed using a high-resolution optical profilometer, in order to determine the wear volume. The specific wear rate of the cermets was found to increase with both the applied load and the steel binder content. To investigate the morphology of worn surfaces, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and associated energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used, in order to fully understand the operative wear mechanisms. A transition from two- to three-body abrasive wear was observed, together with the formation of a oxygen-rich tribolayer, indicating that adhesive wear was also occurring on the cermets. In order to assess the electrochemical behaviour of the cermets in a simulated seawater environment, the samples were evaluated using potentiodynamic, cyclic and potentiostatic polarisation tests, with basic corrosion parameters and rates subsequently determined through Tafel extrapolation and weight loss measurement. Each stage of electrochemical assessment was then evaluated by characterising the corroded surfaces and solution using SEM, EDS and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Microstructural observations using SEM images revealed significant degradation of the samples, with steel binder preferentially dissolved while TiC remained relatively unaffected. The corrosion rate of the cermets increases with steel binder content, which is attributed to the preferential dissolution of the binder.

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) cutting is one of the most recently developed manufacturing technologies. It is superior to many other cutting techniques in processing various materials, particularly in processing difficult-to-cut materials. This technology is being increasingly used in various industries. However, its cutting capability in terms of the depth of jet penetration and kerf quality is the major obstruction limiting its further applications. More work is required to fully understand the cutting process and cutting mechanism, and to optimise cutting performance. This thesis presents a comprehensive study on the controlled nozzle oscillation technique aiming at increasing the cutting performance in AWJ machining. In order to understand the current state and development in AWJ cutting, an extensive literature review is carried out. It has found that the reported studies on controlled nozzle oscillation cutting are primarily about the use of large oscillation angles of 10 degrees or more. Nozzle oscillation in the cutting plane with such large oscillation angles results in theoretical geometrical errors on the component profile in contouring. No published attempt has been found on the study of oscillation cutting under small angles although it is a common application in practice. Particularly, there is no reported research on the integration of nozzle oscillation technique into AWJ multipass cutting, which is expected to significantly enhance the cutting performance. An experimental investigation is first undertaken to study the major cutting performance measures in AWJ single pass cutting of an 87% alumina ceramic with controlled nozzle oscillation at small angles. The trends and characteristics of cutting performance quantities with respect to the process parameters as well as the science behind which nozzle oscillation affects the cutting performance have been analysed. It has been shown that as with oscillation cutting at large angles, oscillation at small angles can have an equally significant impact on the cutting performance. When the optimum cutting parameters are used for both nozzle oscillation and normal cutting, the former can statistically increase the depth of cut by 23% and smooth depth of cut by 30.8%, and reduce kerf surface roughness by 11.7% and kerf taper by 54%. It has also been found that if the cutting parameters are not selected properly, nozzle oscillation can reduce some major cutting performance measures. In order to correctly select the process parameters and to optimise the cutting process, the mathematical models for major cutting performance measures have then been developed. The predictive models for the depth of cut in both normal cutting and oscillation cutting are developed by using a dimensional analysis technique. Mathematical models for other major cutting performance measures are also developed with the aid of empirical approach. These mathematical models are verified both qualitatively and quantitatively based on the experimental data. The assessment reveals that the developed models conform well to the experimental results and can provide an effective means for the optimum selection of process variables in AWJ cutting with nozzle oscillation. A further experimental investigation of AWJ cutting of alumina ceramics is carried out in order to study the application of AWJ oscillation technique in multipass cutting. While high nozzle traverse speed with multipass can achieve overall better cutting performance than low traverse speed with single pass in the same elapsed time, it has been found that the different combination of nozzle traverse speed with the number of passes significantly affects cutting process. Optimum combination of nozzle traverse speed with the number of passes is determined to achieve maximum depth of cut. It has also demonstrated that the multipass cutting with low nozzle traverse speed in the first pass and a comparatively high traverse speed for the following passes is a sensible choice for a small kerf taper requirement. When nozzle oscillation is incorporated into multipass cutting, it can greatly increase the depth of cut and reduce kerf taper. The predictive models for the depth of cut in both multipass normal cutting and multipass oscillation cutting are finally developed. With the help of dimensional analysis, the models of the incremental cutting depth for individual pass are derived based on the developed depth of cut models for single pass cutting. The models of depth of cut for a multipass cutting operation are then established by the sum of the incremental cutting depth from each pass. A numerical analysis has verified the models and demonstrated the adequacy of the models' predictions. The models provide an essential basis for the development of optimization strategies for the effective use of the AWJ cutting technology when the multipass cutting technique is used with controlled nozzle oscillation.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:06:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GustavoPD.pdf: 1290134 bytes, checksum: a233e53c4a04f17b6a39b7b4ef196218 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-22 / The main objective is to analyze the abrasive wear resistance to the low stress of the elements that make up the organs of road machinery that are exposed directly to contact with abrasives. These samples were analyzed after these elements are coated superficially by the process of welding electrode coated with (SAER) and the manual process of coating type LVOF thermal spraying. As well, is to provide suggestions for a better recovery and return of these elements, which are reducing costs and avoiding downtime in the fronts of service. The samples were made from a substrate of carbon ABNT 1045 tempered steel, following the same specifications and composition of metals and alloys of constituents was followed the standard governing the dimensions of these samples and in accordance with the corresponding size. The results were evaluated by testing the hardness, abrasion resistance to wear by the low stress and the loss of volume involving the microstructure of coatings analyzed / O objetivo principal do trabalho ? analisar a resist?ncia ao desgaste abrasivo ? baixa tens?o dos elementos que comp?em os ?rg?os de m?quinas rodovi?rias que est?o expostos diretamente ao contato com abrasivos. Estas an?lises foram efetuadas ap?s estes elementos serem revestidos superficialmente pelo processo de soldagem com eletrodo revestido (SAER) manual e pelo processo de revestimento por aspers?o t?rmica tipo LVOF. Como tamb?m visa apresentar sugest?es para um melhor aproveitamento e rendimento destes elementos, quais sejam, diminuindo custos e evitando paralisa??es nas frentes de servi?o. Os corpos-de-prova foram confeccionados a partir de um substrato de a?o carbono ABNT 1045 temperado, seguindo as mesmas especifica??es e composi??es dos metais constituintes das ligas e foi seguida a norma que regulamenta as dimens?es destas amostras e de acordo com a grandeza correspondente. Os resultados foram avaliados por meio de ensaios de dureza, resist?ncia ao desgaste por abras?o ? baixa tens?o e pela perda de volume associando a microestrutura dos revestimentos analisados

L’industrie aéronautique nécessite l’utilisation de métaux durs et légers, comme le Titane et l’Inconel mais différentes problématiques d’usinage en fraisage ou par usinage chimique compliquent leur mise en oeuvre. L’objectif du travail de thèse est de développer une méthode d’usinage non débouchant de ces métaux durs par jet d’eau abrasif (JEA) pour la réalisation de poches. Actuellement, ce procédé est limité à la découpe mais en contrôlant les paramètres d’usinage il permet la réalisation de poches à profondeurs constante ou variable en maitrisant les caractéristiques géométriques imposées. Ce travail présente l’étude de passages élémentaires et leur superposition afin de générer un parcours nécessaire à la réalisation d’une poche. Il introduit également diverses stratégies pour l’usinage de poches rectangulaires et propose une correction des paramètres opératoires afin d’obtenir un fond à profondeur contrôlée. / The aviation industry requires the use of hard and light metals such as Titanium and Inconel, but different machining problems in milling process or by chemical machining complicate their implementation. The aim of this thesis is to develop a controlled depth milling on these hard metals with abrasive water jet (AWJ) technology for pockets machining. Currently, this process is limited to cutting operation but by controlling the input parameters and the geometric characteristics it allows the realization of pockets with constant or variable depth. This work shows the study of elementary passages and their superposition to generate a necessary path for the realization of a pocket in AWJ. It also introduces a variety of strategies for machining rectangular pockets and provides a correction of the operating parameters to obtain a controlled depth.

As ligas de ferro fundido branco alto cromo (FFBAC) da norma ASTM A-532 são comumente utilizadas em peças que necessitam de elevada resistência ao desgaste. Tal escolha acontece devido à elevada dureza apresentada por tais materiais, o que propicia maior vida útil dos componentes. Entretanto, uma vez que o teor de cromo utilizado nos FFBAC possui grande influência no custo das peças, é importante garantir que os tratamentos térmicos (TOTO’s) aplicados estejam otimizados para cada composição de liga. Buscando atuar nesse sentido, esta dissertação analisou a utilização de diferentes tempos e temperaturas de patamar em TOTO’s de desestabilização da austenita para duas ligas da norma ASTM A-532 (ligas com 20% e 25%Cr). Após tais procedimentos, foram estudadas a dureza e a resistência ao desgaste, tanto para algumas das amostras tratadas quanto para seis amostras de FFBAC fornecidas por diversas fundições nacionais. Os resultados demonstraram a existência de uma temperatura que otimiza a dureza da liga, possibilitando incrementos desta propriedade nas amostras tratadas em valores de até 37% (considerando a dureza inicial na condição “bruto de fusão”). Com relação ao tempo de patamar, verificou-se que o mesmo apresentou pouca influência no incremento de dureza, apresentando variações máximas inferiores à 4% para tratamentos variando entre 30 minutos à 6 horas de duração, resultado que destoou daquele indicado pela literatura. Além disso, verificou-se que uma liga com 19,6 %Cr pode apresentar uma dureza até 11% maior do que o verificado para ligas comerciais Nesta comparação, apesar da liga comercial possuir menor teor de carbono, ficou evidenciado o indicativo de que as peças consideradas neste estudo e oriundas de fundições nacionais não otimizam os resultados de seus TOTO’s. A resistência ao desgaste, por sua vez, demonstrou não depender apenas da macrodureza das amostras, mas também de outras características como tamanho, distância e continuidade dos carbonetos primários, o que explica a obtenção de resultados similares de perda de massa no ensaio abrasivo para amostras que possuem durezas diferindo em cerca de 12% porém possuindo tamanho de microconstituintes similares. Por fim, observou-se que ligas com maiores teores de cromo e menores teores de carbono apresentam menores valores de dureza e resistência ao desgaste, o que viabiliza uma aplicação com maior vida útil e menor custo. / The high chromium white cast iron alloys from ASTM A-532 are commonly used in parts which wear resistance are required. This choice happens due the great hardness showed by these alloys, what propitiates a higher lifetime for the components. However, since chromium content has great influence in the cost of the parts, it is important ensure that the apply heat treatments are optimized for each alloy composition. Thus this dissertation analyzed the application of different heat treatment cycles on the austenite destabilization for two ASTM A-532 alloys (20%Cr and 25%Cr). After the heat treatment, hardness, wear resistance and microstructure were analyzed, both for some of the treated samples as for six samples provided by different manufactures in Brazil. The results showed the existence of a temperature that optimizes the alloy hardness, allowing increases on this property in values up to 37% (considering the initial hardness of the “as cast” condition) Concerning the time of heat treatment, was verified that this parameter has low influence in the increase on hardness, showing maximum variations lower than 4% in treatments with times coming from thirty minutes until six hours, results that does not match that one’s indicated by the literature. Besides that, it was verified that an alloy with 19,6%Cr can present a hardness 11% greater than that verified in commercial. In this comparation, although the commercial alloy having lower carbon content, was evidenced that the parts from the Brazilians companies which were considered in this study, does not have an optimum heat treatment. The wear resistance was not only depend of the sample hardness, but also of other characteristics as size, distance and continuity of the primary carbides, which explain the results of similar mass loss in the abrasive test for samples with hardness differing about 12%, but with similar size of microconstituents. Finally, it was observed that alloys with higher chromium and low carbon content shows lower hardness and wear resistance values than alloys with low percentages of chromium, what enable an application with larger lifetime and lower cost.

As ligas de ferro fundido branco alto cromo (FFBAC) da norma ASTM A-532 são comumente utilizadas em peças que necessitam de elevada resistência ao desgaste. Tal escolha acontece devido à elevada dureza apresentada por tais materiais, o que propicia maior vida útil dos componentes. Entretanto, uma vez que o teor de cromo utilizado nos FFBAC possui grande influência no custo das peças, é importante garantir que os tratamentos térmicos (TOTO’s) aplicados estejam otimizados para cada composição de liga. Buscando atuar nesse sentido, esta dissertação analisou a utilização de diferentes tempos e temperaturas de patamar em TOTO’s de desestabilização da austenita para duas ligas da norma ASTM A-532 (ligas com 20% e 25%Cr). Após tais procedimentos, foram estudadas a dureza e a resistência ao desgaste, tanto para algumas das amostras tratadas quanto para seis amostras de FFBAC fornecidas por diversas fundições nacionais. Os resultados demonstraram a existência de uma temperatura que otimiza a dureza da liga, possibilitando incrementos desta propriedade nas amostras tratadas em valores de até 37% (considerando a dureza inicial na condição “bruto de fusão”). Com relação ao tempo de patamar, verificou-se que o mesmo apresentou pouca influência no incremento de dureza, apresentando variações máximas inferiores à 4% para tratamentos variando entre 30 minutos à 6 horas de duração, resultado que destoou daquele indicado pela literatura. Além disso, verificou-se que uma liga com 19,6 %Cr pode apresentar uma dureza até 11% maior do que o verificado para ligas comerciais Nesta comparação, apesar da liga comercial possuir menor teor de carbono, ficou evidenciado o indicativo de que as peças consideradas neste estudo e oriundas de fundições nacionais não otimizam os resultados de seus TOTO’s. A resistência ao desgaste, por sua vez, demonstrou não depender apenas da macrodureza das amostras, mas também de outras características como tamanho, distância e continuidade dos carbonetos primários, o que explica a obtenção de resultados similares de perda de massa no ensaio abrasivo para amostras que possuem durezas diferindo em cerca de 12% porém possuindo tamanho de microconstituintes similares. Por fim, observou-se que ligas com maiores teores de cromo e menores teores de carbono apresentam menores valores de dureza e resistência ao desgaste, o que viabiliza uma aplicação com maior vida útil e menor custo. / The high chromium white cast iron alloys from ASTM A-532 are commonly used in parts which wear resistance are required. This choice happens due the great hardness showed by these alloys, what propitiates a higher lifetime for the components. However, since chromium content has great influence in the cost of the parts, it is important ensure that the apply heat treatments are optimized for each alloy composition. Thus this dissertation analyzed the application of different heat treatment cycles on the austenite destabilization for two ASTM A-532 alloys (20%Cr and 25%Cr). After the heat treatment, hardness, wear resistance and microstructure were analyzed, both for some of the treated samples as for six samples provided by different manufactures in Brazil. The results showed the existence of a temperature that optimizes the alloy hardness, allowing increases on this property in values up to 37% (considering the initial hardness of the “as cast” condition) Concerning the time of heat treatment, was verified that this parameter has low influence in the increase on hardness, showing maximum variations lower than 4% in treatments with times coming from thirty minutes until six hours, results that does not match that one’s indicated by the literature. Besides that, it was verified that an alloy with 19,6%Cr can present a hardness 11% greater than that verified in commercial. In this comparation, although the commercial alloy having lower carbon content, was evidenced that the parts from the Brazilians companies which were considered in this study, does not have an optimum heat treatment. The wear resistance was not only depend of the sample hardness, but also of other characteristics as size, distance and continuity of the primary carbides, which explain the results of similar mass loss in the abrasive test for samples with hardness differing about 12%, but with similar size of microconstituents. Finally, it was observed that alloys with higher chromium and low carbon content shows lower hardness and wear resistance values than alloys with low percentages of chromium, what enable an application with larger lifetime and lower cost.

In this thesis, the behavior of pearlitic steel was characterized under controlled wear conditions in the laboratory and service conditions in two ore mining stages, comminution and transportation. The thesis consists in three experimental chapters, divided according to the tribosystems analyzed. On all the chapters Electro Microscopy techniques for the microstructural analysis were employed. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Focused Ion Beam (FIB-SEM), Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used. The first experimental chapter shows the analysis of the pearlite under abrasive wear with loose abrasive particles in multi-events conditions. The sample was taken from Semi-Autogenous Grinding mills (SAG) and experimental simulation was carried out in laboratory using the Dry Sand Rubber Wheel Abrasion Test (DSRW). The results show a polycrystalline layer formation in both cases, characterized by ultra-fine grains of ferrite in the layer closer to the surface. It was also concluded that the DSRW can simulate the wear produced on field (superficial and microstructural features) in conditions of higher normal load than recommended by the ASTM Standard G65. The second experimental chapter explores the characterization of the microstructure after the indenter pass in scratch test using two conditions of normal load applied and five sequences of scratch. The microstructural analysis shows the formation of two subsuperficial layers identified by the level of the microstructural alterations. In the subsuperficial layer (close to the surface), the formation of new ultra-fine grains of ferrite was observed. A second layer was observed deeper in the sample and denominated as layer of the microstructure transition, characterized by the combination of deformed (reduction of the interlamellar spacing) and pearlite colonies not affected plastically by the mechanical loading. On this layer, the crystallographic texture in RD // in samples tested at 4 N (normal load) and one-pass scratch was determined. Later, on this chapter, the microstructure in a ground rail (industrial procedure characterized as a multi-event scratch test) was analyzed. Two grinding conditions were used for the analysis with variation of the grinding linear speed and load on the grinding stones (discs). The combination of low grinding speed and high load promotes a higher deformed layer formation beneath the patch zone and low randomized orientation of the pearlite colonies. Finally, in the third experimental chapter, the pearlitic characterization was concluded with the study of samples of railway wheel and rail under wear in service and Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) in laboratory. The laboratorial simulation was carried out using the twin-disc rolling contact tribometer with a variation of number of cycles. The characterization of railway wheel shows that the WEL is characterized by levels of breaking and aligned cementite and zones with dissolution of the carbon atom in the ferrite to form the supersaturated carbon ferrite. The polycrystalline ferrite formation (ultra-fine grains) in the sub-superficial layer and it was identified a preferential orientation of RD // in the layer of microstructural transition. The results of the laboratory test show surface crack nucleation and propagation at low angle in the more severe deformed layer. The microstructure of the layer consists in polycrystalline ferrite and the cementite dissolution. / Nesta tese foi caracterizado o comportamento do aço perlítico em condições controladas de desgaste em laboratório e em serviço em dois estágios do processo de mineração de minério, cominução e transporte ferroviário. A tese consiste em três capítulos experimentais divididos segundo o tribosistema analisado. Em todos os capítulos do trabalho foi utilizada a técnica de microscopia eletrônica para análise microestrutural. Foi utilizado Microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Focused Ion Beam (FIB-SEM), Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) e Microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET). O primeiro capítulo experimental mostra a análise da perlita in condições de desgaste abrasivo com partículas soltas em eventos múltiplos. As amostras foram tiradas de um moinho semi-autógeno (SAG) e realizada uma simulação experimental do desgaste em condições controladas usando o tribômetro de roda de borracha (RWAT). Os resultados mostraram a formação de camada branca em ambas as condições de análise, consistindo em uma camada poli cristalina caracterizada pela formação de grãos ultrafinos na camada mais próxima da superfície de desgaste. Também foi concluído que a roda de borracha pode simular o desgaste produzido nos moinhos SAG tanto nas características superficiais quanto microestruturais em condições de maior severidade as comumente utilizadas na norma ASTM G65 (procedimento B). O Segundo capítulo experimental explora a caracterização da microestrutura depois da passagem do endentador no ensaio de riscamento (scratch test) utilizando duas condições de carga normal aplicada e 5 sequências de riscamento. A análise microestrutural mostrou a formação de duas camadas subsuperficiais identificadas pelo nível de alteração microestrutural. Na camada mais próxima da superfície de desgaste foi observada a formação de grãos ultrafinos de ferrita. A segunda camada identificada mais profundamente na amostra, denominada como camada de transição, é caracterizada pela combinação de colônias deformadas (redução do espaçamento interlamelar) e camadas não afetadas pelos esforços produzidos no contato. Nesta camada foi determinada a texturização em direção RD // nas amostras testadas a 4 N (carga normal aplicada) e uma passada. Posteriormente à análise de riscamento foi caracterizada a microestrutura de uma amostra tirada de um trilho esmerilhado (processo industrial que pode ser considerado como aplicação do ensaio de riscamento). Foram consideradas duas condições de esmerilhamento com variação de velocidade de esmerilhamento (deslocamento linear do veículo esmerilhador) e potência dos motores dos rebolos usada no procedimento. A combinação de baixa velocidade de esmerilhamento e alta potência nos motores controladores dos rebolos promoveu uma grande deformação nas camadas subsuperficiais na região de contato e uma baixa aleatoriedade das orientações cristalográficas das colônias de perlita. Finalmente, no capítulo três, a caracterização da microestrutura perlitica foi finalizada com o estudo de amostras de roda e trilho em condições de desgaste em campo e de Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) em ensaios de laboratório. A simulação experimental foi realizada utilizando o tribômetro twin-disc rolling (configuração disco-disco) com variação do número de ciclos. A caracterização da roda ferroviária mostrou a formação da camada branca caracterizada por níveis de cementita fraturada e alinhada em direção do movimento de rolamento/deslizamento com áreas de dissolução do átomo de carbono na ferrita formando uma ferrita supersaturada. Foi identificado a formação de policristais de ferrita (grãos ultrafinos) na camada mais superficial e uma orientação preferencial RD // na camada de transição. Os resultados dos ensaios de laboratório mostraram a nucleação de trincas superficiais se propagando a baixo ângulo na camada branca. A transformação microestrutural dessa camada após ensaios de laboratório consiste em policristais de ferrita e dissolução da cementita.