The aim of this final year project was to research and compare a variety of wear resistant hard overlay welded steel plates concerning abrasive wearing. The work was part of a common MaTKI-project of Savonia University of Applied Sciences, University of Eastern Finland and Savo Consortium for Education. Four importer companies: Somotec Ltd, Impoweld Ltd, Impoinvest Ltd, SKM Service Ltd participated in the project as well. The research aimed at helping the importer companies of these products and their clients in the search for ways to prevent wear.

The research methods used in this thesis were the hardness test by Rockwell and Vickers methods, the rubber wheel abrasion test and macro- and micro-structure reviewing by light optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The theoretical material about wear and hardfacing was collected from the internet, stand-ards, publications and importer companies. Sample pieces were obtained from the companies participating in the research.

The results showed the abrasive wear behavior of the plates, Rockwell and Vickers hardness and the elemental concentrations in the overlay. Based on these results, products were compared to each other. The results were sent to companies who were involved in the research. It is planned to make domestic and international publications about the research in the future.