Gas tungsten arc welding of direct quenched wear resistant steel to plain carbon steel and evaluation of its microstructure and wear properties

In this research, the dissimilar welding of St52 plain carbon steel to W400 wear resistant steel and its effect on the microstructure and wear properties of the wear resistant steel was investigated. The wear resistant steel was produced via direct quenching with nominal hardness of 400 HB. Gas tungsten arc welding was used for joining process. The results showed that welding led to hardness reduction, wear rate increase and also significant changes in microstructure of the heat affected zone of the wear resistant steel. According to the results, by increasing the heat input for about 9%, the hardness and wear rate of the heat affected zone was decreased 8% and increased 250%, respectively. According to the scanning electron microscopy observations the main wear mechanisms of the base metal were adhesion and abrasion. However, the wear mechanisms of the heat affected zone were mainly adhesion and delamination. By increasing the heat input, the delamination was increased significantly.