Effect of Fe-Cr-C based Electrodes Coating on Hardness and Abrasive Wear Resistance

The aim of this study is to investigate the abrasive wear resistance of the two commercially available electrodes that are used in the sugarcane industries for hardfacing. Study shows that the iron based alloys having variation in amount of chromium, carbon and other alloying element enhances the corrosion resistance and formation of austenite phase of Cr-C, cause increase in the hardness. Hardfacing was applied to mild steel plate by shielded metal arc welding. Abrasive wear test was performed on the pin-on-disc tribo test equipment. Microhardness measurement by the Vickers hardness test and microstructure analysis done by finite element scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and electron disperse X-ray (EDX) spectra. Test results shows that the hardness increases from 230 to 750 HV0.5 and the increase in chromium element enhanced the abrasive wear resistance or reduce loss of materials of hardfaced surface.