Hardfacing Welded ASTM A572-Based, High-Strength, Low-Alloy Steel: Welding, Characterization, and Surface Properties Related to the Wear Resistance

Abstract

This work presents the improvement of hardfacing welding for American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A572-based high-strength, low-alloy steel by controlling the heating/cooling conditions of welding process. In the welding process, the buffer and hardfacing layers were welded onto A572-based material by a nickel–chromium electrode and chromium carbide electrode, respectively. The base metal and electrode materials were controlled by the heating/cooling process during the welding to reduce excessive stress, which could result in a crack in the specimens. The welded specimens were examined by visual and penetrant inspections for evaluating the welding quality. The macro–micro structure of the deposited layer was investigated; scanning electron microscope with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and XRD were used to characterize structural properties, elemental compositions, and crystallite sizes of the welded specimens. The surface properties, such as hardness, impact, and abrasive wear of the welded specimens, were tested for evaluation of the wear resistance of the welded specimens.