Performance of Fe-based hardfacings on hot forging die: experimental, numerical and industrial studies

This paper is an investigation into the use of Fe-based alloys as part of wear resistant hardfacing materials in AISI 1.2714 tool steel. Four different weld hardfacing alloys were deposited on 1.2714 steel substrates using tungsten inert gas welding (TIG) process. Wear tests were carried out using a pin-on-disc wear tester at room temperature. Microhardness and micrographs of the weld overlays were obtained. High-temperature properties were estimated by numerical analysis. The phases of the hardfacings were obtained by XRD and also estimated by numerical analysis. The results from the laboratory tests were then compared with the results obtained from field studies. The results showed that some Fe-based alloys improved dies lifetime; others created poor surfaces. A Fe-based hardfacing alloy D which included high C with Cr, W, Mo had the best wear behavior among the weld overlays.