MICROWAVE-ASSISTED CLADDING OF EN-8 STEEL USING NI-BASED COLMONOY-88 FOR ENHANCED WEAR AND CORROSION RESISTANCE

Surface degradation in engineering components caused by wear and corrosion is a persistent challenge, especially in aggressive high-temperature environments. This study explores the potential of hybrid microwave heating (HMH) to develop Colmonoy88 (a nickel-based alloy) cladding on EN-8 steel substrates to enhance surface properties. The cladded samples were characterized using advanced techniques like SEM, XRD, and microhardness testing. Tribological properties were evaluated using pin-on-disc tests under dry sliding conditions. Results demonstrate significant improvement in hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance compared to the unmodified EN-8 substrate, confirming the viability of microwave-assisted cladding as a cost-effective surface engineering technique.