Influence of cooling rate and composition on orientation of primary carbides of Fe-Cr-C hardfacing alloys

Four Fe-Cr-C hardfacing alloys with carbon contents of 3.34-6.5% were studied. The orientation of primary carbides in the microstructures of hardfacing layers produced by arc surfacing was investigated under controlled cooling conditions. Carbon content and cooling conditions were found to play an important role in determining overlayer microstructures. Increasing carbon content or decreasing Cr/C ratio increased the tendency for primary carbides to be oriented perpendicular to the surface of the overlayers, and the carbides in the microstructure became more compact. Under water cooling conditions, the primary carbides were preferentially oriented perpendicular to the surface, which would be expected to improve wear resistance. At lower cooling rates, primary carbides were oriented randomly.