SURFACE HARDENING WITHOUT AND WITH THE TIC IMPREGNATION ON THE AISI 4340 LOW ALLOY STEEL UNDER THE TIG PROCESS

Authors

  • A. N. Md Idriss Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
  • M. A. Maleque UIIM
  • A. Azhari UMPSA
  • L. Harina UTeM

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54554/jmet.2026.18.01.004

Keywords:

TIG, TiC, Defects, Microstructure, Microhardness

Abstract

One way to harden steel surfaces is through transforming their microstructural features within the top region by fusing high-energy arc inputs. The main reason to have only a little depth layers to be hardened is to increase their surface wear resistance. In this work the AISI 4340 low-alloy steel surface was modified by the TIG arc source without and with the incorporation of TiC particles.  Defects, microstructures and microhardness examined from those tracks were reported. No cracks were observed on both samples. The without reinforcement track showed columnar and equiaxed features on the resolidified melt, while the heat-affected zone was with the martensite. Both structural features from the unreinforced resolidified melt and heat-affected zone gave track microhardness values that were constantly between ~ 500 HV and ~ 600 HV before reaching the undisturbed 300 HV substrate. Dissolution of TiC particle resulted in precipitation of TiC particles at sizes, shapes and population. Embedded TiC particles within the molten pool improved microhardness between ~ 700 HV and ~1000 HV.  In this work, an increase in hardenability up to 3 times that of the substrate is augmented to improve the wear resistance.

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Published

2026-07-03

How to Cite

A. N. Md Idriss, M. A. Maleque, A. Azhari, & L. Harina. (2026). SURFACE HARDENING WITHOUT AND WITH THE TIC IMPREGNATION ON THE AISI 4340 LOW ALLOY STEEL UNDER THE TIG PROCESS. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (JMET), 18(1), 35–44. https://doi.org/10.54554/jmet.2026.18.01.004

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Automotive Engineering

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