Optimisation of Welding Process of Composite Chromium-Carbide Based Tubular Electrode for Hardfacing

The objective of this research work was to investigate the effect of tubular electrode parameters such as baking temperature of electrode (300, 350 and 400?C), duration of baking of electrode (2, 2.5 and 3 hr) and wt. % of chromium (20, 25 and 30 wt. %) on hardfaced surface. The hardfaced surface is obtained using welding process. Specimens so prepared are tested for hardness, with Rockwell hardness tester. Taguchi method is applied for predicting the optimum process parameters which maximize the hardness of hardfaced surface using composite tubular electrode. The result showed that the optimum level of process parameters to obtain good mechanical properties for the hard faced surface are 30% volume fraction of chromium, 300°C of baking and 2.5 hr of baking electrode for maximum hardness. From the analysis it was evident that the volume fraction of chromium is a major contributing factor (52.6%) for improving hardness.