Evaluation of the quality of cladding deposited on continuous steel casting rolls

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents the quality analysis of cladding layers deposited on continuous steel casting rolls made of 41CrMo4 (EN 10083-1-91). The effect of filler used on the tribological properties of claddings was analyzed. There was minimal mixing between the base material and interlayer observed in the process of hard surfacing. The microstructure of the interlayer and the coatings is martensite–ferrite. Dispersed carbides MC, M 7C3, and Cr23C6 were observed in the interlayer. Small amounts of carbides were also observed in the cover layer along with Cr2N and CrN, which was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The highest average hardness, 410 HV30, was measured in the cover layer at a distance of 1 mm from the surface. The lowest hardness was found in the base material, 239 to 243 HV30. The hardness of the interlayer metal is affected by mixing of cladding and cover layer metal. The cladding metal showed a martensite–ferrite structure and fine precipitates in the interlayer, and diffraction spectra of the carbides had the characteristics of MC, M 7C3, and Cr23C6 carbides. Lower abrasive wear has been reported in the reference material (a roll with a surface-hardened layer), which is in line with the contact surface hardness of test samples.