Effect of strong carbide forming elements in hardfacing weld metal

To achieve high carbon hard-facing weld metals with both high hardness and crack resistance, strong carbide forming elements Ti, Nb and V were alloyed into the weld metals, and their effect on the formation of carbides and the matrix microstructure were studied. Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy(EDS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy(TEM) were adopted to investigate the microstructure, then thermodynamics of the formation of carbides was calculated and their effect on the matrix was further discussed. It is revealed that Nb, Ti and V influence strongly the distribution and existing state of carbon, inducing precipitation of carbides accompanying with the depletion of carbon in matrix. But when only V are alloyed as carbide forming element, the carbides are scarce and distributed along grain boundaries, and the hard-facing alloy is too hard, while the using of only Nb or Ti could not reinforce the weld metals effectively. The hard-facing alloy reinforced with Nb, V and Ti can form dispersive fine carbides and low carbon martensite matrix.