Shielded metal arc welding of cemented carbide to carbon steel

Electrode ENiFe-C1 and E4303 were selected to join the cemented carbide WC-20Co and carbon steel 45 by shielded metal arc welding process.Microstructure and bending property of the corresponding joints were analyzed.The results showed that the carbon steel electrode E4303 had no proper metallurgy condition for the arc welding of cemented carbide and carbon steel.The C and Ni content of the cast iron electrode ENiFe-C1 could meet the condition of preventing the formation of η carbide, which was suit to the arc welding of cemented carbide and carbon steel, but the operation parameters needed to be optimized to minimize the slag inclusion.The alloy WC-20Co which did not fit for cold arc welding, by adopting the measure of being preheated at 723 K for 1 h before welding, and being kept at 723 K for 3 h after welding then followed furnace cooling could avoid the happening of crack in the WC-20Co base metal.