Journal of Welding Science

In order to improve hardness and wear resistance of St60 steel substrate, NiCrMo welding wire was coated on its surface using gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process. Welding characteristics were considered to create a coating with maximum hardness and wear resistance and minimum defects. The results showed that the microstructure of the composite coatings mainly contains of α-Mo, NiMo and blade phases. By increasing in the arc current from 90 to 110 A, porosity and non-uniformity in microstructure of the coatings increased and the sample coated with the arc current of 90 A showed a more uniform microstructure and fewer defects. The average hardness of the coatings was obtained in the range of 218-227 HB (substrate's hardness is approximately equal to 152 HB). The sample prepared with arc current of 90 A showed the least weight loss and the sample prepared with arc current of 110 A showed the greatest weight loss. The wear mechanism of the substrate was mainly abrasive wear and the wear mechanism of the coatings was mainly abrasive and adhesive wear, with the lowest wear products related to the sample prepared with arc current of 90 A and therefore, this sample showed the greatest wear resistance.