Snow Removal Operation: Strategies to Extend Wear Pad Durability

In snow removal equipment, scraping blades are typically considered replaceable due to wear from harsh operational conditions. However, to protect these blades and improve equipment durability, manufacturers have begun adding wear pads behind the blades. These wear pads elevate the blade slightly above ground level, making them the primary wear components instead of the blades themselves.

During snow removal, solid particles from asphalt, sand, ice, and other road materials scrape and groove the undersides of wear pads. The main wear mechanism here is abrasion, visible as parallel scratches with varying depths. The wear rate increases based on the material properties of the wear pads and work conditions, including load pressure, ground surface, sliding distance, contact duration, and environmental factors.

Due to the extensive movement involved, wear debris is generally cleared from the contact zone, though some particles may dull on the surface before detaching as wear progresses. Abraded surfaces show parallel grooves of varying depth. Over time, wear remains steady, and debris volume grows linearly with applied load and distance covered.

Wear Pad Materials and Manufacturing

Wear pads are typically made either of hardened steel throughout or of a semi-hard steel base with a hard overlay. This second option is favored for preventing abrasion, extending wear pad lifespan, and enhancing equipment performance. Under such abrasive conditions, the materials selected should include ferrous alloys similar to high-chrome white cast iron, enriched with stable carbide-forming elements like Nb, V, and W. This hypereutectic alloy structure features a high volume of primary chrome carbides, further reinforced by other monocarbides within an austenitic matrix and secondary carbides. This concentration of carbides ensures abrasive particles from the ground tend to glide over the hard overlay surface rather than penetrating or wearing down the matrix.

Experience shows that hard overlays applied in a dotted pattern offer better resistance to detachment than continuous overlays across the base. For optimal anchorage, hard overlays should be deposited in pre-drilled holes. Additionally, the base metal must be compatible with the overlay material to ensure minimal penetration and avoid fusion gaps around the holes.

Preparation and Welding

1. Drill holes ¼" deep and ½-¾" in diameter every 2", following a grid pattern on the wear pad surface.
2. Chamfer the hole openings.
3. Apply hard overlay using products like Sodel 2045 or Sodel 2024Plus, depending on the base metal and chosen strategy.

For the overlay sequence:

1. Preheat to 400°F.
2. Start the arc at the bottom of the hole, welding in a circular motion from edge to center.
3. Deposit 2-3 layers after filling each hole.
4. Let cool to ambient temperature.
5. Grind the overlay’s perimeter to shape it like a "rivet head."

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