Effects of Alloy Composition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Iron Hardfacing Layers Developed by Submerged Arc Welding

A high carbon Fe-Cr-C alloy is applied over low carbon steel to make it more resistant to wear. In the industry, welding is commonly used to apply these hard layers. Among all welding methods, submerged arc welding (SAW) is the most popular because it provides a higher deposition rate than other methods. In this study, three hardfacing layers with different carbon levels were made using SAW. The final layers were tested to understand their properties. The first test checked the chemical composition and showed that the hardfacing layers had a high amount of alloying elements. Microstructural analysis revealed that as the carbon content increased, more carbide formed, and the structure included hard carbides in an austenite matrix. Hardness testing showed that as carbon levels went up, so did the hardness, indicating better mechanical and wear-resistant properties in the layers.