The effect of V addition on microstructure and tribological properties of Fe-Ti-C claddings produced by gas tungsten arc welding

The microstructure of the cladded layers consisted of carbide particles and primary Fe3C blades in pearlitele-ledeburite matrix. The addition of V into the cladded layer increased the volume percentage of carbide particles and led to the formation of relatively fine (Ti,V)C complex carbides with uniform distribution in the matrix, while the volume percentage of the primary Fe3C phase decreased. With increasing the weight percentage of V in the cladding layers, the microhardness and wear resistance of the cladding layers increased which was due to the increase in volume percentage of (Ti,V)C complex carbides and the strengthening effect of the matrix by V. The addition of V up to 5 wt.% to the two passes Fe-Ti-C cladding layer increased the hardness from 51 to 62 HRC. The wear weight loss decreased by about 60%. The predominant wear mechanisms of the cladded samples were separation of carbides and adhesive wear. In the cladded layer containing higher vanadium content, the separation of carbides decreased and lower adhesive wear was seen.