Gas tungsten arc cladding martensitic stainless steel AISI420 over A-517 carbon steel to improve the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior

ASTM A517 quenched and tempered steel low-alloy high-strength steel is widely used in structures where high strength, good toughness, and ease of welding are important. By increasing surface properties such as wear and corrosion resistance, this steel facilitates the use of thinner sections, which leads to reduced structural weight, increased transportability, increased vessel mobility, and fuel economy. Among the available options, the martensitic stainless steel alloy AISI420 is widely used in hardfacing due to its hardness, abrasion resistance, and high corrosion resistance. In this study, AISI 420 steel was cladded on ASTM A517 sheet using the gas tungsten arc welding. AISI 420 filler metal was first deposited on the surface of A517 steel for two layers. The cladded samples were prepared in three types of as-weld, heat treatment at 200 °C and 300 °C. The result showed that the microstructure of cladding sample consisted of a delta ferrite and martensite. The average hardness of cladded sample was increased by about 2 times, the tensile strength of the sheet increased by about 35%, the wear resistance by about 50 times. Evaluation of corrosion behavior also illustrated a better corrosion resistance of AISI 420 steel coating than A-517 base metal.