Performance comparison between ASTM A-36 steel with hardfacing and carburizing and SAE 8620 steel

Abstract

Abrasive wear represents one of the primary failure factors in industrial components, reducing the service life of machinery and tools. In situations involving a combination of surface abrasion and impact stresses, surface treatments capable of hardening the outer region without compromising core toughness are required. Carburizing is widely used in this context, with SAE 8620 steel being one of the reference alloys, although it presents low availability in plate form in the domestic market. This study investigated the use of ASTM A-36 steel as an alternative, applying a martensitic stainless steel coating via welding, followed by carburizing. Microhardness tests, rubber wheel abrasive wear tests, and metallographic analyses were conducted. The results showed that carburizing was effective in the weld material, promoting significant microstructural modifications. The welded and carburized specimen exhibited superior performance compared to SAE 8620, demonstrating the feasibility of using ASTM A-36 as a replacement, with the potential to extend the service life of large-scale parts exposed to abrasive wear