At first glance, hardfacing can be confusing and troublesome; in reality, it isn't. Understanding some of the basics about hardfacing can go a long way toward instilling confidence in your hardfacing product selection.
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The following 19 answers to frequently asked questions may help you select hardfacing products that are most appropriate for your application.
1. What is hardfacing?
Metal parts often fail their intended use not because they fracture, but because they wear, which causes them to lose dimension and functionality. Hardfacing, also known as hardsurfacing, is the application of buildup or wear-resistant weld metals to a part's surface by means of welding or joining.
2. What base metals can be hardfaced?
Carbon and low-alloy steels with carbon contents of less than 1 percent can be hardfaced. High-carbon alloys may require a special buffer layer.
The following base metals can be hardfaced:
3. What is the most popular procedure used to apply hardfacing?
In order of popularity, the following procedures can be used:
FCAW and GMAW may be interchangeable or the same in terms of popularity. However, the trend is toward use of semiautomatic and automatic welding procedures.
ProcedureDeposition Rate (lbs./hr.)FCAW8 to 25GMAW5 to 12SMAW3 to 5SAW8 to 25GTAW3 to 5OFW5 to 104. With so many welding processes available, which ones are the most economical?
Many factors affect the economics of hardfacing, but a major one is the deposition rate. Figure 1shows the estimated deposition rate for each process.
Yes. Many different categories of wear exist—too many to cover in one article—but the most typical modes of wear are as follows (percentages are estimates of total wear):
Most worn parts don't fail from a single mode of wear, such as impact, but from a combination of modes, such as abrasion and impact. For example, a mining bucket tooth usually is subjected to abrasion and impact, and depending on what type of material is mined (soft or hard rock), one mode may be more dominant than another. This will dictate the welding product used.
Determining the wear mode can be challenging and may require trial and error when you select hardfacing products.
Yes. Iron-base alloys can be divided into three main categories:
It depends on the hardfacing alloy. Many chromium carbide alloys check-crack when cooled to moderate temperatures; this is normal. Others, such as the austenitic and martensitic families, don't crack when applied with proper welding procedures.
Check-cracking, or checking as it's sometimes called, occurs in the metal carbide families and can be seen as cracks that are perpendicular to the bead length (see Figure 2). They generally occur from 3/8 to 2 inches apart and are the result of high stresses induced by the contraction of weld metal as it cools.
The cracks propagate through the thickness of the weld bead and stop at the parent metal, as long as it's not brittle. In cases in which the parent metal is hard or brittle, you should select a buffer layer of a softer, tougher weld metal. The austenitic family is a good choice for a buffer deposit.
Generally, these are iron-base alloys that contain high amounts of chromium (greater than 18 percent) and carbon (greater than 3 percent). These elements form hard carbides (chromium carbides) that resist abrasion. The deposits frequently check-crack about every 1/2 in., which helps relieve stress from welding. Their low friction coefficient also makes them desirable in applications that require material with good slip.
Generally speaking, the abrasion resistance increases as the amount of carbon and chromium increases, although carbon has the most influence. Hardness values range from 40 HRC to 65 HRC. They also can contain other elements that can form other carbides or borides that help increase wear resistance in high-temperature applications. These alloys are limited to two or three layers.
Complex carbides generally are associated with the chromium carbide deposits that have additions of columbium, molybdenum, tungsten, or vanadium. The addition of these elements and carbon form their own carbides and/or combine with the present chromium carbides to increase the alloy's overall abrasion resistance. They can have all of these elements or just one or two. They are used for severe-abrasion or high-heat applications.
No, this isn't a good idea. A martensitic alloy and a chromium carbide alloy can have the same hardness, let's say 58 HRC, and perform vastly different under the same abrasive conditions. The metallurgical microstructure is a better measuring stick, but that isn't always available.
The only time hardness can be used to predict wear is when the alloys being evaluated are within the same family. For example, in the martensitic family, a 55 HRC alloy will have better abrasion resistance than a 35 HRC alloy. This may or may not be the case in either the austenitic or metal carbide families. Again, you have to consider the microstructure. You should consult with the manufacturer for recommendations.
It depends on the type of wear involved, but in the case of abrasive wear—by far the most predominant wear mechanism—the ASTM Intl. G65 Dry Sand Rubber Wheel Test is used extensively. This essentially is a test in which the sample is weighed before and after the test, and the result usually is expressed in grams of weight loss or volume loss.
A sample is held against a spinning rubber wheel with a known force for a number of revolutions. A specific type of sand, which is sized carefully, is trickled down between the sample and rubber wheel. This simulates pure abrasion, and the numbers are used as guidelines in material selection (seeFigure 3).
Low penetration and dilution are the major objectives in hardfacing, so pure argon and mixtures of argon with oxygen or carbon dioxide generally will produce the desired result. You also can use pure carbon dioxide, but you'll get more spatter than you would with an argon mixture.
Welding wires produce either a spray transfer or a globular (ball) transfer of molten metal across the welding arc. Spray transfer is a dispersion of fine molten metal drops and can be characterized as a smooth-sounding transfer. These wires are desirable in joining applications in which you require good penetration.
Ball transfer wires disperse larger molten metal drops, or balls. This type of transfer promotes low penetration and dilution, suitable for hardfacing. It has a noisier arc that produces an audible crackling sound and generally has a higher spatter level than spray transfer wires. Welding parameters such as electrical stickout, gas (if any), amperage, and voltage can affect the size of the ball and its transfer. Gasless, or open arc, wires all have a globular or ball transfer.
As a rule, you should bring all parts at least to room temperature. You can select higher preheat and interpass temperatures based on the base metal chemistry and hardfacing product you're using.
Manganese and some stainless steels and similar hardfacing products require no preheating, and welding temperatures should be kept as low as possible. Other steels usually require proper preheat and interpass temperatures. You should consult the manufacturer for the best combination to prevent cracking and spalling.
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Cobalt alloys contain many types of carbides and are good for severe abrasion at high temperatures. They also have good corrosion resistance for some applications. Deposit hardness ranges from 25 HRC to 55 HRC. Work-hardening alloys also are available.
Nickel-base alloys can contain chromium borides that resist abrasion. They can be good particularly in corrosive atmospheres and high temperatures when abrasion is a problem.
Limited-layer products usually are in the metal carbide families, such as chromium carbide and tungsten carbide. You can apply martensitic and austenitic products in unlimited layers unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise.
The brittle nature of the metal carbides leads to check-cracking, and as multiple layers are applied, stress continues to build, concentrating at the root of the check cracks, until separation or spalling occurs between the parent metal or buffer and the hardfacing deposit.
These alloys often resemble the parent metal alloy and are applied to severely worn parts to bring them back to dimension or act as a buffer for subsequent layers of a more wear-resistant hardfacing deposit. If the hardfacing produces check cracks, then it's wise to use a tough manganese product as the buffer to blunt and stop the check cracks from penetrating into the base metal.
Yes, but you must take preheat and interpass temperatures into account. Nickel and nickel-iron products usually are suitable for rebuilding cast iron. These products aren't affected by the carbon content of the parent metal and remain ductile. Multiple layers are possible. If further wear protection is required, metal carbide products can work well on top of the nickel or nickel-iron buildup.
These frequently asked questions only begin to address hardfacing. Hardfacing product manufacturers and specialists can contribute to a greater in-depth understanding of hardfacing and help assist you in product and process selection for your application
Bob Miller is a materials and applications engineer at Postle Industries Inc., P.O. Box 42037, Cleveland, OH 44142, 216-265-9000, www.postle.com.
Flux cored wires were developed in the late 1950s. To date, they are one of the widely used materials in welding applications for the following reasons:
High performance
High weld quality and finish
High deposition rate
High stability in windy climate
Suitable for both indoor and outdoor conditions
Ideal for most welding positions
A flux cored wire should be chosen wisely for the best results. Here are some tips to help you.
Types
There are two types of flux cored wires: self-shielded and gas-shielded.
Both have an external sheath and are filled with alloys and deoxidizer mix called flux. They can also weld thicker metals and deposit more welding material. However, the similarities end here.
Self-shielded flux cored wires requires no gas tank, welders can carry them outdoors easily. The main disadvantage is that they emit more smoke and spatter, Hence most suitable for Hard Surfacing applications.
Gas-shielded flux cored wires need an external gas supply. They are suited for welds that require excellent joint penetration. The main disadvantage is that it is difficult to manoeuvre in remote locations.
Industry
The usage of flux cored wires varies across industries and applications. Each type of flux cored wire is designed for a specific purpose. For example,
Self-shield flux cored wire is suitable for outdoor welding in bridge construction, structural steel and shipbuilding applications.
Gas-shield flux core wire is suitable for indoor welding applications in heavy-equipment manufacturing, general fabrication, petrochemical piping and pressure vessels.
Diameter
The diameter of the flux cored wires is another key factor to bear in mind while choosing the same. It is influenced by other variables such as welding position, material thickness, weld size, and weld current and polarity.
Small diameter wires are ideal for all positions, while large ones are better for flat and horizontal welding.
Appearance
The choice of flux cored wire also depends on the aesthetic appeal that welders want to achieve. For example, gas-shielded wires give a better finish and look than self-shielded wires.
Reputation of Manufacturer
The reputation of the flux core wire manufacturer is as crucial as the technical specifications. The welders should buy flux cored wires from manufacturers with long-standing experience in the market. They should not compromise quality for low prices. Find a manufacturer who can offer the best quality flux cored wires at competitive rates.
There is no doubt that flux cored wires hold great importance in the welding industry. Irrespective of the choice, the right application and welder’s experience makes all the difference eventually.
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