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Analysis of WC/Ni-Based Coatings Deposited by Controlled Short-Circuit MIG Welding

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Abstract

This study investigates the recently developed controlled short-circuit metal inert gas (CSC-MIG) welding system for depositing WC/Ni-based claddings on carbon steel substrates. WC/Ni-based coatings deposited by CSC-MIG were analyzed by optical light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) capabilities. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and hardness measurements of depositions are also reported. The CSC-MIG welding system provides a significant amount of user control over the current waveform during welding and has lower heat input when compared with traditional MIG welding. Heat input for the analyzed coatings ranged from 10.1 to 108.7 J/mm. Metallurgically bonded coatings free from spatter and with 0.75% average porosity were produced. It was found that the detrimental decarburization of the WC particles seen in thermal spray systems does not occur when welding with the CSC-MIG. Precipitation of a reaction layer around the reinforcing phase was identified as WC; the average thickness of which increases from 3.8 to 7.2 μm for the low and high heat input condition, respectively. Precipitation of newly formed WC particles was observed; their size distribution increased from D 50 of 2.4 μm in the low heat input weldment to 6.75 μm in the high heat input weldment. The level of dilution of the reinforcing phase increases significantly with heat input. The hardness of the deposited coatings decreases from 587 HV10 to 410 HV10 when the energy input was increased from 10.1 to 108.7 J/mm.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank NSERC and McGill University for the overall funding of the study. The authors would like to thank Professor In-ho Jung for his help with FactSage and Dr. Pierre Hovington from Hydro-Québec for the help with the EBSD and EDS acquisitions. Finally, the authors would like to thank Polymet for the supply of the WC-based welding wire.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University St., Montreal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada

    P. Vespa, P. T. Pinard, R. Gauvin & M. Brochu

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  1. P. Vespa
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Correspondence to M. Brochu.

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Vespa, P., Pinard, P.T., Gauvin, R. et al. Analysis of WC/Ni-Based Coatings Deposited by Controlled Short-Circuit MIG Welding. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 21, 865–876 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-011-9947-7

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