Effect of nanosized powders on the structure and properties of electrospark alloyed coatings

The influence of nanosized additives ZrO sub 2 , Al sub 2 O sub 3 , W, WC, WC-Co, NbC, Si sub 3 N sub 4 on mass transfer of the SHS electrode material of the Ti-Cr-Ni-C system (SHIM-3B alloy trade mark) is considered. The thickness, continuity, and microhardness of the electrospark coatings alloyed onto the nickel alloy, as well as the coating structure, wear resistance, and the nanosized powder distribution in the coating have been studied. The coatings obtained have been subjected to X-ray analysis. An optimum performance regime of the ALIER-METAL setup for high-frequency electrospark alloying has been determined. It has been found that addition of nanosized powders to the electrode material facilitates thickening of the electrospark alloying (ESA) coatings and improvement of their continuity, hardness, and wear resistance. (Nickel alloy substrate. SHIM-3B: nickel-bound binary titanium-chromium carbide and chromium carbide.)