New Hardfacing Material with High Impact Wear Resistance Available to Purchase

This study evaluates a new iron-based hardfacing powder alloy. The powder, a FeWCrCB tool steel, is applied to mild steel substrates by plasma transferred arc (PTA) and laser cladding. The clad specimens are examined and tested for weldability, impact and abrasive wear resistance, and wear life. It is shown that the alloy solidifies in a narrow temperature range, first forming a fcc phase followed by a eutectic structure consisting of austenite, carbides, and borides. After solidification, the austenite is transformed to martensite. Impact wear testing shows that the new alloy offers approximately ten times longer life than tungsten-based nickel-matrix composites, but it was outperformed by 50% in abrasive wear tests.