INVESTIGATION ON MICROSTRUCTURAL AND GEOMETRICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF COLD METAL TRANSFER HARDFACED INCONEL 718 ON MEDIUM CARBON STEEL
Keywords:
cold metal transfer (CMT), Inconel 718, hardfacing, process parameters, bead geometry
Abstract
This study presents a compelling exploration of the microstructural and mechanical enhancements achieved with Inconel 718 hardfaced layers on AISI 1045 medium carbon steel through the advanced cold metal transfer (CMT) process. By precisely adjusting process parameters such as travel speed and wire feed rate, this research examines their effects on bead geometry and dilution for both stringer- and oscillation-type depositions. Microstructural analysis unveiled defect-free hardfaced layers, achieving seamless metallurgical bonding between the substrate and hardfacing material. Notably, oscillation-type deposition with optimized parameters (6 m/min wire feed rate and 20 cm/min travel speed) achieved an impressively low dilution of 3.38 %, surpassing stringer-type deposition in quality. Furthermore, hardness testing highlighted a significant improvement in the surface durability as oscillation-type deposition reached 254 HV, while the value of the substrate was 172 HV. SEM-EDX analysis confirmed the inclusion of critical alloying elements such as nickel, niobium, and molybdenum, reinforcing the hardfaced layer’s robust composition. These findings underscore the CMT process’s capacity to fabricate high-quality, low-dilution Inconel 718 hardfaced layers, providing substantial resistance to corrosion and wear. The finely tuned parameters identified here offer valuable guidance for the industries seeking enhanced performance in demanding environments.
References
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Weld. Int. 30 (6) (2016) 443–451, https://doi.org/10.1080/
09507116.2015.1096558.
26 N. Pravin Kumar, N. Siva Shanmugam, Some studies on nickel based Inconel 625
hard overlays on AISI 316L plate by gas metal arc welding based hard-facingprocess, Wear 456 (2020) 203394, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2020.203394
27 S Gejendhiran, A Karpagaraj, DVinoth Kumar, Ragupathy Dhanusuraman, N Annamalai, Experimental investigations on Inconel 718 hard-faced layer deposited over
SS304 using cold metal transfer, Surf Coat Technol, 468, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2023.129739
28 Sexton L, Lavin S, Byrne G, Kennedy A. Laser cladding of aerospace materials. J Mater Proc Technol 2002;112:63–8.
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27 (2021) 1155–1172, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-019-00440-x.
31 Quested PN, M McLean. Effect of variations in temperature gradient and solidification rate on microstructure and creep behaviour of IN 738LC. Proceedings of conference on ‘Solidification technology in the foundry and cast house’. London: The Metals Society; 1980. 586–591.
32 Nikhil Thawari, Chaitanya Gullipalli, Jitendra Kumar Katiyar, T.V.K. Gupta, Effectof multi-layer laser cladding of Stellite 6 and Inconel 718 materials on clad
geometry, microstructure evolution and mechanical properties, Mater. Today
Commun. 28 (2021) 102604, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.102604.
33 Hoyeol Kim, Weilong Cong, Hong-Chao Zhang, Zhichao Liu, Laser engineered netshaping of nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 powders onto AISI 4140 alloy steel
substrates: Interface bond and fracture failure mechanism, Materials 10 (4) (2017)
341, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10040341.
34 Hirose A, Sakata K, Kobayashi KF. Microstructure and mechanical properties of laser beam welded Inconel 718. Int. J. Mater Prod Technol 1998;13(1/2):28–44.
35 Cieslak MJ, Headley TJ, Knorovsky GA, Roming AD, Kollie T. A comparison of the solidification behavior of INCOLOY 909 and INCONEL 718. Metall Trans A 1990;21A:479–88.
36 Radhakrishna C, Rao KP, Srinivas S. Laves phase in superalloy-718 weld metals. J Mater Sci Lett 1995;14(24):1810–12.
37 Schirra JJ, Caless RH, Hatala RW. The effect of laves phase on mechanical properties of wrought and Cast + HIP lnconel 718. In: Loria EA, editor. Proceedings conference superalloy 718, 625 and s. Warrendale, PA: TMS; 1991. p. 375–88.
2 Huang, Corrosion resistance improvement of 45 steel by Fe-based amorphous coating, Vacuum, 153, 2018. 39 – 42, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2018.03.042
3 Peng Xu, ChengXin Lin, ChaoYu Zhou, XinPeng Yi, Wear and corrosion resistance of laser cladding AISI 304 stainless steel/Al2O3 composite coatings, Surf Coat Technol, 238, 2014. 9 – 14, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2013.10.028
4 Yiyong Sui, Fan Yang, Guoliang Qin, Zhiyong Ao, Yong Liu, Yubao Wang, Microstructure and wear resistance of laser-cladded Ni-based composite coatings on downhole tools, J Mater Process Technol, 252, 2018. 217 – 224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2017.09.028
5 Lida Zhu, Shuhao Wang, Haichao Pan, Cuntao Yuan, and Xuesong Chen, Research on remanufacturing strategy for 45 steel gear using H13 steel powder based on laser cladding technology, J Manuf Process, 49, 2020. 344 - 354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2019.12.009
6 Xi Chen, Mingpu Yao, Fanrong Kong, Youheng Fu, Jun Wu, and Haiou Zhang, In-situ quality monitoring of laser hot wire cladding process based on multi-sensing diagnosis and machine learning model, J Manuf Process, 87, 2023. 183 – 198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2023.01.031
7 M. Alizadeh-Sh, S.P.H. Marashi, E. Ranjbarnodeh, R. Shoja-Razavi, Laser cladding of Inconel 718 powder on a non-weldable substrate: Clad bead geometry-solidification cracking relationship, J Manuf Process, 56 (A) 2020. 54 – 62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2020.04.045
8 Kai Feng, Yuan Chen, Pingshun Deng, Yuyan Li, Haixing Zhao, Fenggui Lu, Ruifeng Li, Jian Huang, Zhuguo Li, Improved high-temperature hardness and wear resistance of Inconel 625 coatings fabricated by laser cladding, J Mater Process Technol, 243, 2017. 92-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2016.12.001
9 Anas Ahmad Siddiqui, Avanish Kumar Dubey, Recent trends in laser cladding and surface alloying, Opt Laser Technol, 134, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2020.106619
10 Rajeev G.P., Kamaraj M., Srinivasa R. Bakshi, Hard-facing of AISI H13 tool steel with Stellite 21 alloy using cold metal transfer welding process, Surf Coat Technol, 326, 2017, 63-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2017.07.050
11 Pickin, C. G., & Young, K. (2006). Evaluation of cold metal transfer (CMT) process for welding aluminium alloy. Science and Technology of Welding and Joining, 11(5), 583–585. https://doi.org/10.1179/174329306X120886
12 H.T. Zhang, J.C. Feng, P.He, B.B. Zhang, J.M. Chen, L.Wang, The arc characteristics and metal transfer behaviour of cold metal transfer and its use in joining aluminium to zinc-coated steel, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 499 (2009) 111–113.
13 G. Lorenzin G. Rutili , The innovative use of low heat input in welding: experiences on cladding and brazing using the CMT process , Weld. Int. (2009) 23(8) 622-632 26.
14 G. P. Rajeev, M. Kamaraj and S. R. Bakshi, Al-Si-Mn Alloy Coating on Aluminum Substrate Using Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) Welding Technique, JOM 66(6) (2014) 1061-1067 28.
15 Pickin CG, Williams SW, Lunt MJ. Characterisation of the cold metal transfer (CMT) process and its application for low dilution cladding. Mater Proc Technol 2011;211:496–502.
16 O.T. Ola, F.E. Doern, A study of cold metal transfer clads in nickel-base Inconel 718 superalloy, Mater. Des. 57 (2014) 51–59.
17 Paulson Varghese, E. Vetrivendan, Manmath Kumar Dash, S. Ningshen,
M. Kamaraj, U. KamachiMudali, Weld overlay coating of Inconel 617 M on type
316 L stainless steel by cold metal transfer process, Surf. Coat. Technol. 357 (2019)
1004–1013, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2018.10.073.
18 D.T. Sarathchandra, M.J. Davidson, Effect of heat input on mechanical and
microstructural properties of Inconel 625 depositions processed in wire arc
additive manufacturing, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. E J. Process Mech. Eng. 235 (5)
(2021) 1439–1448, https://doi.org/10.1177/09544089211004718.
19 Monika Solecka, Agnieszka Kopia, Agnieszka Radziszewska, Bogdan Rutkowski,
Microstructure, microsegregation and nanohardness of CMT clad layers of Ni-base
alloy on 16Mo3 steel, J. Alloys Compd. 751 (2018) 86–95, https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.04.102.
20 T. Ca Zhao, S. Zhang, Z.Y. Wang, C.H. Zhang, D.X. Zhang, N.W. Wang, C.L. Wu,Cavitation erosion/corrosion synergy and wear behaviors of nickel-based alloy
coatings on 304 stainless steel prepared by cold metal transfer, Wear 510 (2022)
204510, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2022.204510
21 Jayanta Ghosh Roy, N. Yuvaraj, Effect of welding parameters on mechanical
properties of cold metal transfer welded thin AISI 304 stainless-steel sheets, Trans.
Indian Inst. Metals 74 (2021) 2397–2408, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-021-
02326-2.
22 Xu Tang, Song Zhang, Xue Cui, Chunhua Zhang, Yu Liu, Jingbo Zhang, Tribologicaland cavitation erosion behaviors of nickel-based and iron-based coatings depositedon AISI 304 stainless steel by cold metal transfer, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 9 (3)
(2020) 6665–6681, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2020.04.064.
23 Sandeep Singh Sandhu, A.S. Shahi, Metallurgical, wear and fatigue performance ofInconel 625 weld claddings, J. Mater. Process. Technol. 233 (2016) 1–8, https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2016.02.010
24 Jaakko Tapiola, Jari Tuominen, Jorma Vihinen, Petri Vuoristo, Sliding wear
behavior of cold metal transfer cladded Stellite 12 hard-facings on martensitic
stainless steel, Weld. World 67 (3) (2023) 573–584, https://doi.org/10.1007/
s40194-022-01390-6.
25 Cleiton Carvalho Silva, Edvan Cordeiro de Miranda, Marcelo Ferreira Motta, H´elioCordeiro de Miranda, Jesualdo Pereira Farias, Minimization of defects in nickelbased superalloy weld overlay deposited by the GTAW cold wire feed process,
Weld. Int. 30 (6) (2016) 443–451, https://doi.org/10.1080/
09507116.2015.1096558.
26 N. Pravin Kumar, N. Siva Shanmugam, Some studies on nickel based Inconel 625
hard overlays on AISI 316L plate by gas metal arc welding based hard-facingprocess, Wear 456 (2020) 203394, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2020.203394
27 S Gejendhiran, A Karpagaraj, DVinoth Kumar, Ragupathy Dhanusuraman, N Annamalai, Experimental investigations on Inconel 718 hard-faced layer deposited over
SS304 using cold metal transfer, Surf Coat Technol, 468, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2023.129739
28 Sexton L, Lavin S, Byrne G, Kennedy A. Laser cladding of aerospace materials. J Mater Proc Technol 2002;112:63–8.
29Gaofeng Liu, Shihui Zhou, Pengyu Lin, Xuemei Zong, Zhikai Chen, Zhihui Zhang, Luquan Ren, Analysis of microstructure, mechanical properties, and wear performance of NiTi alloy fabricated by cold metal transfer based wire arc additive manufacturing, Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 20, 2022. 246-259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2022.07.068
30 A Evangeline, P. Sathiya, Dissimilar cladding of Ni–Cr–Mo superalloy over 316L
austenitic stainless steel: morphologies and mechanical properties, Met. Mater. Int.
27 (2021) 1155–1172, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-019-00440-x.
31 Quested PN, M McLean. Effect of variations in temperature gradient and solidification rate on microstructure and creep behaviour of IN 738LC. Proceedings of conference on ‘Solidification technology in the foundry and cast house’. London: The Metals Society; 1980. 586–591.
32 Nikhil Thawari, Chaitanya Gullipalli, Jitendra Kumar Katiyar, T.V.K. Gupta, Effectof multi-layer laser cladding of Stellite 6 and Inconel 718 materials on clad
geometry, microstructure evolution and mechanical properties, Mater. Today
Commun. 28 (2021) 102604, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.102604.
33 Hoyeol Kim, Weilong Cong, Hong-Chao Zhang, Zhichao Liu, Laser engineered netshaping of nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 powders onto AISI 4140 alloy steel
substrates: Interface bond and fracture failure mechanism, Materials 10 (4) (2017)
341, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10040341.
34 Hirose A, Sakata K, Kobayashi KF. Microstructure and mechanical properties of laser beam welded Inconel 718. Int. J. Mater Prod Technol 1998;13(1/2):28–44.
35 Cieslak MJ, Headley TJ, Knorovsky GA, Roming AD, Kollie T. A comparison of the solidification behavior of INCOLOY 909 and INCONEL 718. Metall Trans A 1990;21A:479–88.
36 Radhakrishna C, Rao KP, Srinivas S. Laves phase in superalloy-718 weld metals. J Mater Sci Lett 1995;14(24):1810–12.
37 Schirra JJ, Caless RH, Hatala RW. The effect of laves phase on mechanical properties of wrought and Cast + HIP lnconel 718. In: Loria EA, editor. Proceedings conference superalloy 718, 625 and s. Warrendale, PA: TMS; 1991. p. 375–88.
Published
2025-02-05
How to Cite
1.
Keerthivasan P, Sivagami SM, Raja VijayT, Annamalai N. INVESTIGATION ON MICROSTRUCTURAL AND GEOMETRICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF COLD METAL TRANSFER HARDFACED INCONEL 718 ON MEDIUM CARBON STEEL. MatTech [Internet]. 2025Feb.5 [cited 2025Mar.25];59(1):67–74. Available from: https://mater-tehnol.si/index.php/MatTech/article/view/1281
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