The Possibility of Increasing the Wearing Resistance of Mulcher Tools

This paper presents a utilization of mulcher tools, their wear and possibilities of increasing their lifetime and durability based on analysis and tests. Mulcher tools are subjected to a very strong wear causing the loss of soldered WC tips in some cases and even permanent deformation of the body tool made of steel 14 220 (16MnCr5) during the continuous use. Images depicting the loss of material from the mulcher tool due to wear were produced by overlaying the pre- and after-wear tools by means of the optical scanning system. Input analyses - measuring of hardness, impact test and evaluating of microstructure showed that forging is without heat treatment. This does not provide sufficient mechanical properties to tools that would ensure work continuation after losing WC tips. Therefore, an appropriate process of heat treatment of the tool body has been proposed. By comparing the loss of material using abrasive test, it was observed that the wear of heat-treated material was three times lower than of material without heat treatment. This gives the precondition for increasing the resistance of the tool body and thus increasing of lifetime and durability after loss of WC tips. The implementation of such a solution could bring not only technical but also economic benefits.