Electrospark-Deposited Coatings from Titanium and Tungsten Carbide Alloys: Mass Transfer Kinetics, Structurization, and Properties

Abstract

New electrode materials based on WC, TiC, and TiB₂ have been developed for solid wear-resistant electrospark coatings on the base metal. The processes of phase formation and structurization during hot pressing of these materials were studied. Effects of the technology of electrode material production on the mass transfer and coating properties were examined. The alloys have fine structure with 1–2 μm grains of the main fraction, and hardness 26–30 GPa. The structure and functional characteristics of the above-mentioned electrospark coatings were studied: their hardness was 14–24 GPa, thickness 40–120 μm; scale resistance of the developed materials is significantly higher than of the T15K6 alloy coatings, and their resistance against abrasion wear and wear in the conditions of dry sliding friction indicate the possibility of effective use of electrospark coatings made of developed electrode materials for strengthening fast wearing parts of machines and devices.