Microstructure and Microhardness of 17-4PH Deposited with Co-based Alloy Hardfacing Coating

Hardfacing is widely used to improve the performance of components exposed to severe service conditions. In this paper, the surface modification was evaluated for precipitation hardening martensitic stainless steel 17-4PH deposited with Co-based alloy stellite12 by the plasma-transferred arc welding (PTAW). The microstructure and microhardness of coating and heat affected zone(HAZ) of base metal were characterized by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron scanning microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer and hardness tester. The results show that the interface between weld metal and base metal is favorable without pore and crack, at the same time elements diffusion is observed in the fusion area. However, as the distance from the interface increases, HAZ comprises three different microstructural zones, namely, zones of coarse overheated structures, quenching martensite and martensite, ferrite. The microhardness decreases gradually from the HAZ near interface to the base metal, except the zone of coarse overheated structures. The microhardness of the coating improves a lot and fluctuates in a definitive range, and microstructural gradient is observed including the fusion area (the planar region and the bulky dendrite in a direction perpendicular to the weld interface), the transition zone (the dendrite in a multi-direction way) and the fine grain zone near the surface in the coating (fine equiaxial structure).