Structural Features of Coatings Produced by Cladding with STIM-2/30 SHS Electrodes and T-590 Commercially Available Electrodes

T-590 commercially available electrodes for wear-resistant claddings and STIM-2/30 electrodes prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) extrusion and containing reinforcing titanium carbide particles have been used to produce protective layers on the surface of steel by electric arc cladding. We have determined the phase composition and structure of the clad coatings. The results demonstrate that the microstructure of the coatings produced by cladding with the use of T-590 electrodes is formed by a carbide eutectic. The reinforcing TiC phase in the SHS electrodes has been shown to pass into the clad layer and be uniformly distributed across the entire clad layer, which is accompanied by the formation of an intermediate diffusion layer on the coating–substrate fusion interface. The hardness and microhardness of the clad coatings are a factor of 2–4 higher than those of the steel substrate. Cladding with the use of T-590 electrodes ensures higher hardness of the clad layers, but an increase in the percentage of ferrite in their structure can lead to a decrease in their wear resistance. The coatings produced by cladding with the use of SHS electrodes have a favorable structure capable of ensuring high abrasive wear resistance.