Silicon carbide particulates incorporated into microalloyed steel surface using TIG: microstructure and properties

ABSTRACT

Surface metal matrix composites have been developed to enhance properties such as erosion, wear and corrosion of alloys. In this study, ∼5 µm or ∼75 SiC particulates were preplaced on a microalloyed steel. Single track surface zones were melted by a tungsten inert gas torch, and the effect of two heat inputs, 420 and 840 J mm⁻¹, compared. The results showed that the samples melted using 420 J mm⁻¹ were crack-free. Pin-on-disk wear testing under dry sliding conditions was conducted. The effects of load and sliding velocity were used to characterise the performance of the crack-free samples. Microstructural and X-ray diffraction studies of the surface showed that the SiC had dissolved, and that martensite, was the main phase influencing the hardness.

KEYWORDS:

• Surface engineering
• microalloyed steel
• silicon carbide particulates
• particle size
• TIG melting
• wear rate
• microhardness

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge that some of this work was carried out at the Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, housed within the University of Strathclyde and to thank, Dr Maider Olasolo, Steven Black, Gerard Johnston and James Kelly for their technical support in this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.