Microstructure and wear resistance of Fe-Cr13-C-Nb hardfacing alloy with Ti addition

The results show that, the carbide precipitation of the Fe-Cr13-C-Nb hardfacing alloy was determined by Ti addition. Ti has greater affinity than Nb for carbon to form TiC, and the prior TiC precipitates act as nucleation sites for NbC to promote precipitation of complex carbides in the hardfacing alloy. The microstructure of the Fe-Cr13-C-Nb hardfacing alloy with titanium addition exhibited hard carbides dispersion in a tough martensite matrix, where the hard carbides provide the resistance to abrasion. So the Fe-Cr13-C-Nb hardfacing alloy with titanium addition showed a better wear resistance, and the wear mechanism was mainly interrupted plastic grooves with minimum depth and desquamation of carbides.