Development of SiC Ceramic Reinforced Composite Interlayer Cladding with AISI304 Stainless Steel Wire on Low Carbon Steel Substrate Using TIG Cladding Process

In the present study, AISI304 stainless steel, silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic reinforced composite cladding surface was fabricated on the low carbon steel (LCS) by Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) cladding techniques. The composite AISI304 stainless steel-SiC cladding was achieved by applying a TIG heat source using a semi-automatic moving trolley. The heat input ranged between 299 J/mm to 414.7 J/mm while maintaining a 3 mm gap from the tungsten electrode tip to the pre-placed AISI304 stainless steel-SiC clad layer. In order to examine the distribution of SiC particles within the cladding layer and the metallurgical bonding between the MMC and LCS substrate, both optical and W-SEM analyzers were used. The present study reports that the microhardness was recorded maximum in AISI304 stainless steel-SiC cladded layer 525 HV0.5 and 177 HV0.5 for LCS substrate constituents in the cladded layer, respectively using a Vickers microhardness tester. Moreover, wear resistance of Low carbon steel (LCS) and SiC-AISI304 stainless steel was observed at 165 & mu;m and lowest at 90.16 & mu;m for 145A to the LCS substrate against 120 grit SiC emery paper, utilizing pin-on-disc tribometer. Furthermore, the dendrite microstructure was revealed in the SiC-AISI304 stainless steel clad layer. Further hardened compound phase like Cr7C3, Fe3C, Fe5C2, and Fe2C was identified in the clad layer, enhancing their wear and hardness properties due to the presence of SiC in the steel matrix. Additionally, it was observed that the dendrite size and inter-dendritic spacing in the cladded SiC/AISI304 stainless steel reduced when there is increment in the heat input. In addition to it, the wear resistance was also increased as the dilution percentage of SiC- steel on the LCS substrate increased.