Microstructure and mechanical properties of Stellite 6 alloy powders incorporated with Ti/B4C using plasma-arc-surfacing processes

Composite powders including Ti, B4C and Stellite 6 were deposited on the 316 stainless steel using plasma-transferred arc welding to improve the wear resistance.Microstructural characterisation using an optical microscope and a Vickers hardness tester was performed on the surface to determine the coating and hardness.Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive-spectroscopy line scanning were also applied to characterise the microstructure, the chemical composition and the process of wear.Results showed that Ti, B4C and Stellite 6 considerably affected the microstructure and morphology of the coating.The in-situ new phases, namely, TiC and TiB, remarkably improved the wear resistance compared with the Stellite 6 coating only.Keywords: in-situ