Cracking mechanisms and microstructure of Co-based surfacing layer during high-temperature impact fatigue.

In this paper, high-temperature impact fatigue (HTIF) was carried out on a Co-based surface layer cladded by TIG welding, and cracks emerged at 400-cycle condition. The reasons for cracking were investigated from three aspects: microstructure, stress distribution, and crystal orientation. Crack generation was induced by high stress distribution in eutectic carbides at grain boundaries and the great disparity in orientations between grains on two sides of the crack path. The microstructural advantage for cracking behavior played a key role in emergence of cracks, which was verified by the investigation and comparison of three distances from the weld interface. Moreover, the interface microstructure of Co-based layer and FB2 substrate was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, and the phase composition of the weld interface comprised Fe Co and M 23 C 6. The results presented that the addition of Ni-based transition layer caused the acquisition of the crack-free surface layer after HTIF. Finally, microhardness test was conducted on samples with and without a transition layer. The hardness of Co-based surface layer without the transition layer was mainly affected by the transformation of carbides, dilution of Fe, and work hardening during HTIF. The hardness of Co-based surface layer with the transition layer showed minimal change during HTIF, and this finding was attributed to the slight variation in the microstructure. • The microstructural evolution of Stellite 6 layer was revealed. • Mechanisms of cracks generation during HTIF were illustrated. • Crack problem was solved by the addition of Inconel 625 transition layer. • The phase composition of interfacial layer was determined. • Reasons for hardness variation during HTIF was explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]