Structural phase states and heat aging of composite electron-beam clad coatings

The effect of heat aging treatment on structural-phase composition and properties of austenitic composite electron-beam clad coatings has been studied. The rational aging schedule has been developed both to retain the austenitic matrix and provide multimodal carbide particles' size distribution throughout the clad metal volume. It is shown that vanadium carbide precipitates in manganese- and nickel-containing matrices in the form of isolated equiaxial particles of the mean size 94nm and ~1μm, respectively. Such a structural-phase state becomes feasible by combining the electron-beam cladding and heat treatment conditions. Wear resistance of coatings with multi-modal carbide size distribution has improved as compared to that of the non-aged coatings. •We study multi-pass electron beam composite coatings on low carbon steel substrates.•We found a multimodal size distribution of carbide particles in the coatings.•Thermocycling in cladding facilitates precipitation of carbides from austenite matrix.•Wear resistance is improved by extra aging the composite coatings.