- Description
Clad Steel Plate: Manufacturing and Processing Technology of Weld Overlay Wear Plate
Clad steel plate (also called weld overlay plate or hardfaced wear plate) is a composite material produced by depositing a wear-resistant alloy layer onto a steel base plate. Its performance depends not only on material composition but also on a precise and controlled manufacturing process.
Compared with ordinary steel plate production, clad steel plate requires multiple metallurgical and welding steps to achieve a stable wear-resistant surface.
1. Raw Material Preparation
| Material | Function |
|---|---|
| Base steel plate | Provides strength and structural support |
| Welding alloy wire/powder | Forms wear-resistant overlay layer |
| Flux or shielding gas | Protects weld quality during deposition |
2. Surface Cleaning and Pre-Treatment
Before welding, the base plate must be thoroughly cleaned:
- Remove oil, rust, and surface impurities
- Ensure clean bonding surface
- Improve metallurgical fusion quality
Proper pre-treatment is essential to avoid delamination and defects.
3. Preheating Process
The base plate is often preheated before overlay welding:
- Reduces thermal stress
- Prevents cracking in hardfacing layer
- Improves bonding strength
Preheating temperature depends on steel grade and overlay system.
4. Overlay Welding Process
This is the core manufacturing step of clad steel plate.
| Process Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Open arc welding | Common, cost-effective, high deposition rate |
| Submerged arc welding (SAW) | Stable quality, suitable for large plates |
| PTA (Plasma transferred arc) | High precision, excellent carbide control |
| Laser cladding | High-end process, low dilution, high performance |
The wear-resistant layer is built by multiple welding passes to reach the required thickness.
5. Multi-Layer Deposition Control
- Each layer must be precisely controlled in thickness
- Cooling is required between passes
- Carbide distribution must remain uniform
This step determines final hardness and wear resistance.
6. Cooling and Stress Relief
After welding, controlled cooling is required:
- Prevents thermal deformation
- Reduces internal residual stress
- Improves structural stability
7. Straightening and Finishing
Because welding introduces deformation, finishing processes are required:
- Mechanical straightening
- Surface grinding (if required)
- Dimensional correction
8. Cutting and Fabrication
Clad steel plates are often processed into final shapes:
- Plasma cutting
- Waterjet cutting (preferred for precision)
- Laser cutting (thin plates)
Special care is needed due to the high hardness of the overlay layer.
9. Quality Inspection
| Test Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Hardness test | Verify wear resistance level |
| Bonding strength test | Ensure metallurgical fusion quality |
| Thickness measurement | Check overlay uniformity |
| Surface inspection | Detect cracks or defects |
10. Teda Ganghua Clad Steel Plate Manufacturing Capability
As a professional wear-resistant steel supplier, Teda Ganghua produces high-quality clad steel plates using controlled welding processes, stable alloy systems, and strict quality inspection standards.
We provide customized wear solutions including cutting, fabrication, and engineered wear protection for mining, cement, steel, and power industries.
Explore our wear-resistant steel products here:
Chromium Carbide Overlay Plate
Conclusion
The manufacturing of clad steel plate involves multiple precise steps including surface preparation, preheating, multi-layer welding, cooling control, finishing, and inspection. This complex process ensures high hardness, strong bonding, and long service life in industrial wear applications.
