The surface of Q235 low carbon steel was modified by the metal inert-gas welding (MIG) method; a 304 stainless steel surfacing layer was fabricated to improve the properties of Q235 low carbon steel. For practical industry application, keyhole tungsten inter gas (K-TIG) welding was used to weld the surface-modified plates. The microstructure, elemental distribution, micro-hardness, and corrosion resistance of the surface-modified plates and the welded joints were analyzed. The corrosion tests of welded joints and surface-modified plates were carried out with the electrochemical method and hydrochloric acid immersion method, respectively, and surface morphology after corrosion was studied. The results show that the surface-modified plates and their welded joints were defect-free. The microstructure of the surfacing layer consisted of austenite, martensite, and ferrite; and the microstructure of the weld consisted mainly of martensite. The hardness and corrosion resistance of the surfacing layer was superior to that that of low carbon steel. The micro-hardness of the weld is higher than that of the stainless steel surfacing layer and the base material. The corrosion resistance of the surfacing layer is the best, and the corrosion resistance of the welding seam is better than that of the base material.
Keywords: K-TIG; corrosion morphology; low carbon steel; polarization curve; stainless steel; surface modification.