Investigating wear performance of EN8 steel cladded with AISI316 steel using the WAAM-CMT process

This study focuses on enhancing the wear resistance of agricultural tools by cladding EN8 steel with AISI316 stainless steel using the Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing-Cold Metal Transfer (WAAM-CMT) technique. The ideal parameters for achieving superior wear resistance in AS1 (AISI316 clad 1) include a current of 145A, voltage of 15 V, scanning speed of 10 cm/min, and wire feed speed of 5 m/min. The AS1 specimen achieved a hardness increase of 70% compared to the base steel, underscoring its superior durability. Comprehensive dry sliding and slurry abrasion tests revealed that AS1 cladded specimens outperformed uncladded specimens in terms of wear resistance. In slurry abrasion tests, AS1 demonstrated approximately 50%–60% lower wear rate compared to the base steel (EN8), while a 35%–40% reduction in wear rate was observed during pin-on-disc tests. Microscopic examination reveals a ductile mode of failure in EN8 steel, whereas a mixed mode of failure is observed in the cladded specimen AS1. Overall, the application of AISI316 steel cladding significantly improves the durability and performance of EN8 steel under abrasive conditions.