High-Energy Electrospark Surface Strengthening of Steels with Composite Ceramics

Abstract

The surface and cross-sectional structure, composition, and microhardness of composite coatings on ShKh15 and R6M5 steels have been studied under high-energy electrospark deposition with electrode materials based on zirconium boride and titanium nitride or zirconium nitride. It is shown that mass transfer of alloying components into the metallic base is determined by wetting of the refractory component with iron. The strengthening/unstrengthening of the steel substrate is ascertained under high-energy electrospark deposition.