High chromium cast irons are widely
used as abrasion resistant materials. The mechanical
properties and wear resistance of these irons depend
on the type, hardness, morphology, distribution,
volume fraction and orientation of the eutectic and
precipitated carbides within their microstructures and
on the nature of the matrix supporting these hard
eutectic carbides. This paper is aimed to review the
nature and crystallography of eutectic carbides and
secondary carbides which are formed during
solidification and precipitated during heat treatments
of high chromium irons.