# Microstructure and Friction–Wear Properties of 1Cr13 Coating on SAE 1045 Prepared by Arc Cladding

## TL;DR

This paper shows that using arc cladding to apply a 1Cr13 coating on SAE 1045 steel significantly improves hardness and reduces friction, making it useful for repairing industrial parts.

## Contribution

The study introduces a low-cost, portable arc-based additive manufacturing method for on-site restoration of steel components with enhanced wear resistance.

## Key findings

- The 1Cr13 coating achieved a hardness of 551.94 HV0.2, 2.26 times higher than the SAE 1045 substrate.
- The coating exhibited a lower and more stable friction coefficient (0.502–0.511) compared to the substrate (0.532–0.548).
- The process provides a wear-resistant, metallurgically bonded layer suitable for heavy-duty industrial applications.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
A 1Cr13 cladding layer was obtained on an SAE 1045 substrate through the arc cladding process.The average hardness of the coating reached 551.94 HV0.2, 2.26× of the substrate.The average friction coefficient of 1Cr13 (0.502~0.511) is lower and more stable than that of SAE 1045 (0.532~0.548) across all loads.

A 1Cr13 cladding layer was obtained on an SAE 1045 substrate through the arc cladding process.

The average hardness of the coating reached 551.94 HV0.2, 2.26× of the substrate.

The average friction coefficient of 1Cr13 (0.502~0.511) is lower and more stable than that of SAE 1045 (0.532~0.548) across all loads.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Arc cladding leads to an increase in surface hardness and wear resistance.It provides a basis for iron-based wear-resistant coatings in engineering.It offers a low-cost method for strengthening medium-carbon steel parts.

Arc cladding leads to an increase in surface hardness and wear resistance.

It provides a basis for iron-based wear-resistant coatings in engineering.

It offers a low-cost method for strengthening medium-carbon steel parts.

To address the practical requirements for in situ equipment restoration, this study investigates a portable and cost-effective approach for the localized repair of SAE 10SAE 1045 components using a 1Cr13 martensitic stainless steel coating prepared via an arc-based additive manufacturing (WAAM) process. The microstructural evolution and tribological response of the layers were analyzed, with a focus on the effects of discrete thermal cycling and controlled solidification inherent to portable arc equipment. The WAAM process produced a refined martensitic matrix with a microhardness of 551.94 HV0.2, which is 2.26 times that of the substrate. Under dry sliding conditions, the 1Cr13 coating exhibited a lower friction coefficient and a reduced wear volume compared to the untreated SAE 1045, primarily through the mitigation of severe plastic deformation. This additive route provides a millimeter-scale reinforcement layer with metallurgical integrity suitable for heavy-duty service, aiming to offer a practical reference for the low-cost, on-site restoration of industrial components.