The factors that affect the life of continuous steel casting rollers were investigated. Rollers that were removed from a manufacturing line because they had failed were renovated by submerged arc welding and subjected to working conditions until they again failed. The welding parameters (welding current, welding voltage, welding speed, current polarity, preheating temperature, interpass, postheating, and cooling conditions of clad) and chemical reactions and compositions had important effects on roller lifetime. Chromium has a dominant influence on the abrasion resistance of hard martensitic structures of the roller. Cr produces several types of precipitates (M₃C, M₂₃C₆, M₇C₃, and M₃C₂). Alloying elements Mo and V in welding wire form fine carbides Mo₂C and VC in weld layers. In low-carbon welding wires, precipitation hardening by N₂ is used, by formation of chromium nitrides CrN and Cr₂N. This article analyzes the process of failure of the functional surfaces of the repaired roller, in order to identify the origin and propagation of the cracks and share of corrosive environment on the tribo-degradation processes.