Elucidating the microstructure and erosive wear of ceramic powder alloying on AISI 1050 steel

► WC and TiC powders were separately clad on AISI 1050 steel surface by GTAW process. ► Both claddings improved the erosion resistance at an oblique impact angle. ► The morphology of precipitates affected erosive wear performance of the clad layer. ► The vein-like Fe3W3C of the WC cladding toughened the matrix. ► The erosion led to incompatible plastic flow in the microstructure of TiC cladding.