Study on the Formation of η Phase During TIG Welding

The paper studied the effect of Ni-Fe-C filler materials on the η phase formation during TIG welding of WC-30Co and 45 steel, η phase‘s morphology and forming condition were discussed using I3EI method. The properties of the weld joints were also measured using microhardness measurement and four-point bending measurement. The results show that the weld joints of WC-30Co/45 steel can be obtained by TIG welding using different Ni-Fe-C materials as filler materials, and η phase formed in the joints is M6C, M12C type carbides. The poor carbon content of the W-Co-C system resulted from the C diffusion and the high ingredient Fe are the two vital factors inducing to η phase formation. It can be restricted by the addition of C element into Ni-Fe material. When carbon content is 0. 01% in filler material, bend strength σbb of weld joint is 908 MPa. However, when carbon content increases to 0.41% in filler material, bend strength σbb is 1 260 MPa.