Correlation of Microstructure with Hardness and Corrosion Resistance of Surface Alloyed Materials Fabricated with Fe-Based Metamorphic Powders by Accelerated Electron Beam Irradiation Method

This study aims at correlating microstructure with hardness and corrosion resistance of surface alloyed materials fabricated with Fe-based metamorphic powders by an accelerated electron beam irradiation method. The surface alloyed materials contained 48 vol.% of hard Cr2B crystalline phases in the Cr0.19Fe0.7Ni0.11 matrix, and thus its hardness was 2.5 times greater than that of the steel substrate. The corrosion resistance of the surface alloyed materials was better than that of an STS304 stainless steel or coatings fabricated by high-velocity oxygen fuel spraying of Fe-based metamorphic powders because the Cr0.19Fe0.7Ni0.11 matrix of the surface alloyed layers and coating was selectively corroded, while Cr2B borides were retained inside pits. These findings suggested that the fabricated surface alloyed materials presented good application possibilities as excellent wear- and corrosion-resistant materials.