While many metal components or equipment parts fail, they do so, not because they break, but because of constant wear. Metal parts simply become dull and useless. Worn down, they are unable to perform their tasks properly. They can no longer function appropriately.
One way to reduce these instances is to provide a protective coating or layer over the original or base metal. One method of accomplishing this is hardfacing. While various metals may act as the coating, one preference remains constant. This is carbide hardfacing.
Hardfacing
Without hardfacing, a metal component can and does lose its shape and size as well as its ability to function. Hardfacing or hardsurfacing restores and/or creates a surface capable of withstanding the rigors the equipment will face when it performs its designated tasks on the worksite. With carbide hardfacing, a minimum thickness of 1 mm (0.040″) is applied through welding-related methods to various base metals. This can be any of the following common metals:
* Cast irons and steels
* Copper-base alloys
* Manganese steels
* Nickel-base alloys
* Stainless steels
The techniques, also referred to as overlaying or cladding produce result in a more durable, long-lasting, heat-resistant product.
Common Methods of Application
Hardfacing techniques vary. Some shops prefer one to another. A few are more popular in this field. Among them are:
* Brazing
* Flux cored arc welding (FCAW)
* Gas metal arc welding (GMAW)
* Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
* Laser welding
* Oxyfuel welding (OFW) or oxyacetylene welding
* Plasma transferred arc welding
* Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
* Submerged arc welding (SAW)
The two most popular on this list are FCAW and GMAW. Yet, increasingly, automation and computerization are beginning to take over in welding resulting in different approaches – both semi and completely automatic, coming to the fore.
Carbide Hardfacing
If your machinery continually faces heavily abrasive conditions, they will wear down quickly. The use of carbide hardfacing will improve their capabilities and longevity. This will improve your company’s long-term functionality.
