Characterisation of nickel based hardfacing deposits on austenitic stainless steel

Nickel based hardfacing alloys Colmonoy-5 and Colmonoy-6 deposited on type 316L austenitic stainless steel substrate using the gas tungsten arc welding process, were characterised for their microstructure and hardness variations across the deposit/substrate interface, and for identification of the principal precipitates present in these hardface deposits. Hardness measurements and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) across the interface revealed the presence of a dilution zone 2·5 mm wide in the Colmonoy-6 deposit and 1·5 mm wide in the Colmonoy-5 deposit. EPMA and X-ray diffraction studies of the precipitates showed that he blocky type precipitates were chromium borides and the needle-like precipitates were chromium carbides. Also, stress relief heat treatment at 1123 K for 4 h was found to have no significant effect on the hardness of these hard face deposits.