Microstructure and wear mechanism change by Nb added in slag free self-shielded flux cored wire

Abstract

The iron based hardfacing alloys were produced using slag free self-shielded flux cored wires with varying niobium contents. The results show that NbC acted as the nucleus of primary M₇(C, B)₃ (M = Cr, Fe mainly) carbides and decreased the amount of M₇(C,B)₃ carbides when niobium was added into the alloys. When 18 wt-%Fe–Nb (60 wt-%Nb) was added, the microstructure of hardfacing alloy transformed from hypereutectic structure to a eutectic one due to the formation of NbC, which consumed a mass of carbon. The microstructure changed into a hypoeutectic structure when the Fe–Nb content was up to 24 wt-%. With the increase in Fe–Nb content, the main abrasive wear mechanism changed from microcracking to microcutting and microploughing due to the formation of NbC and the reduction of primary M₇(C, B)₃ carbides. The wear loss of the alloy with 18 wt-%Fe–Nb addition was the smallest among all the alloys.