Electron Beam Cladding of Vanadium and Carbon Powders on Carbon Steel in the Air Atmosphere

Abstract

The electron beam cladding of vanadium and graphite powder mixture with additions of the flux agents on thick steel workpieces was implemented using the “ELV-6” electron accelerator. Structural and tribological investigations of the hardened surface were carried out. It was shown that cladding of vanadium-carbon powder mixtures by high-power electron beam injected to the atmosphere led to formation of high quality coatings. The highest microhardness level of cladded layer reached 12 GPa. Thickness of the surface layer was in the range 2.5-3.4 mm. Concentration of hard vanadium carbide particles increased with decrease of layer thickness which resulted in growing the wear resistance level of modified material.