Microstructure and wear properties of nickel-based surfacing deposited by plasma transferred arc welding

Nickel-based alloy coating was deposited on AISI 304 L stainless steel substrate using plasma transferred arc welding (PTAW). Microstructure and tribological characteristics of the coating were studied. The as-deposited microstructure mainly consists of Ni-rich γ (Ni, Fe) phase, Cr7C3, CrB, Cr3C2, M23C6, Ni3B, and Ni3Si. Compared with that of the 304 L stainless steel substrate, the wear resistance of the coating greatly improves. The wear test demonstrates that the wear mechanism depends on wearing time and applied load. When the wearing time is short, the wear mechanism is abrasive wear under low load and adhesive wear under high load. When the time is relatively long, the wear mechanisms are adhesive wear and oxidation wear under low load; fatigue wear appears under high load.

► The surfacing of Ni50 alloy was deposited on the surface of 304 L by PTAW process.
► The microstructure and tribological characteristic of the surfacing were researched.
► The wear resistance of as-deposited surfacing had been greatly improved.
► The main wear mechanism depended on the wearing time and the applied load.