Hardfacing of Bulk Nanophase Coatings

This paper discusses the production of iron-based nanophase hardfaced coatings by means of common arc welding methods. The key is the exact, close-to-eutectic composition of the newly developed alloys. In combination with a precise control of the dilution of the base metal, this results in an eutectic composition of the coating, which allows the in-situ generation of nanoscale hardphases during solidification. The applied cooling rates are only of secondary importance. The self-organizing nanophase structures within the hardfaced coatings show phase dimensions of approximately 100–300 nm. The generation of nanoscale structures in hardfaced coatings allows the improvement of mechanical properties, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The article further demonstrates a potential application for these types of hardfaced coatings in the field of cutting edges.