Evaluation of mass loss of weld-deposited hardfacing with cored wire Ti-FeCrC alloy

In this article, we have studied the mass loss of hardfacing applied by flux-cored arc welding. Heat input, shielding gas and number of layers of coating were changed to application of Fe–Cr–Ti–C self-shielded tubular wire. Overlapping beads were deposited on plates of carbon steel AISI 1020 to analyse the mass loss, hardness and microstructure. For the analysis of mass loss, beads were deposited forming overlapping layers of coatings. Hardness measurements were performed on the surface of the specimens of wear. A rubber wheel abrasion tester was used to access the mass loss of coatings. The coatings had retained austenite and martensite microstructure with carbides finely dispersed in the matrix. The main factors that contributed to the increase in mass loss were the cracks due to higher cooling rate of the samples deposited with low heat input, the dilution in the first layer of all samples also contributed to the increase in mass loss. The smallest mass losses were those deposited coatings with high heat input, the second and fourth layers, the samples AC2, AC4 and AS2. The volume fraction of titanium carbides contributed to the decrease in the mean free path between the particles of carbides and increased the wear resistance of the coatings.