Microstructures and properties of Fe-Cr-C hardfacing alloys with high carbon content

Microstructures and properties of high carbon Fe-Cr-C series hardfacing alloys were invesitigated.Morphology of primary carbide was studied with four kinds of hardfacing alloys that contain 3.34%, 4.11%, 5.16%, 6.5% carbon respectively.The effects of carbon element on microstructures and mechanical properties were analyzed.The results demonstrate that the quantities and the volume of primary carbide, and macro hardness of hardfacing layer increase with increasing carbon content .The wear resistance increases with increasing carbide when carbon content is less than 5. 16%, but significantly decreased when carbon content increased to some degree .Carbon content is important to microstructures and properties of hardfacing layer.The theoretical analysis suggests that the cavities appearing on the hardfacing layer abraded may be the cavities on the primary carbide where the crystal defect is.