Microstructure and wear properties of multicomponent alloy cladding formed by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)

A multicomponent alloy (Al0.5–Fe2–Co–Ni–Cr–Mo–Si) cladding was fabricated on a low-carbon steel substrate by the GTAW process using a multicomponent alloy filler. The resulting cladding layer was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed the presence of an FeMoSi phase and a BCC phase in the dendritic and interdendritic regions, respectively. The wear resistance of the cladding layer was four times that of the substrate. The improvement of wear resistance of the cladding layer could be attributed to the high hardness of the dendritic FeMoSi phase and nanoscale precipitation in the interdendritic region. The covalent-dominant strong atomic bonds in FeMoSi enhanced the hardness and wear resistance of the cladding layer.