Effect from the Composition of Electrodes Produced from TiC–(Fe–Cr–Al–Si) Alloys on the Formation, Phase Composition, and Properties of Wear- and Oxidation-Resistant Electrospark-Deposited Coatings on Steel

The structure, phase composition, and hardness of electrode materials produced by hot pressing of TiC–(Fe–9% Cr–1.5% Si–2% Al) alloys were examined. The binder amount in the alloys varied from 20 to 90 wt.%. The phase composition, hardness, and oxidation resistance of the electrosparkdeposited coatings made of the developed materials were studied at 900°C with holding for 35 h, and their abrasive wear resistance was tested. It was determined how hot-pressing temperature of the electrode alloys and the spark discharge energy influenced the cathode (steel 45) weight increment in the electrospark deposition process employing an ELITRON-22A unit. The developed electrode materials were used to make a coating 120–160 μm thick, with the total thickness of the strengthened layer and transition zone being 240–270 μm, with 8.5–14.5 GPa microhardness (depending on the binder content of the alloys). The abrasive wear resistance and oxidation resistance of the electrospark-deposited coatings made of the developed alloys are two to three times higher than those of the coatings made of TiC hard alloys with Co–Cr, Co–Ni, and Ni–Mo binders.