metals Article Hardfacing Welded ASTM A572-Based, High-Strength, Low-Alloy Steel: Welding, Characterization, and Surface Properties Related to the Wear Resistance Nakarin Srisuwan 1,2, Nuengruetai Kumsri 3, Trinet Yingsamphancharoen 2,3 and Attaphon Kaewvilai 3,* 1 Thai-French Innovation Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok 10800, Thailand; nakrin.s@tfii.kmutnb.ac.th 2 Welding Engineering and Metallurgical Inspection, Science and Technology Research Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok 10800, Thailand;
[email protected] 3 Department of Welding Engineering Technology, College of Industrial Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok 10800, Thailand;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +66-2-555-2000 (ext. 6417) Received: 31 December 2018; Accepted: 13 February 2019; Published: 19 February 2019 Abstract: This work presents the improvement of hardfacing welding for American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A572-based high-strength, low-alloy steel by controlling the heating/cooling conditions of welding process. In the welding process, the buffer and hardfacing layers were welded onto A572-based material by a nickel–chromium electrode and chromium carbide electrode, respectively. The base metal and electrode materials were controlled by the heating/cooling process during the welding to reduce excessive stress, which could result in a crack in the specimens. The welded specimens were examined by visual and penetrant inspections for evaluating the welding quality. The macro–micro structure of the deposited layer was investigated; scanning electron microscope with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and XRD were used to characterize structural properties, elemental compositions, and crystallite sizes of the welded specimens.