Influence of Electrospark Discharge Parameters on Physicochemical Characteristics of Steel 45 Surface after Elecrospark Alloying by Electrodes Based on WC-8%Co Alloy with Chromium Carbide Additions

The work is devoted to the investigation of the influence of the electric spark discharge parameters and electrode materials based on tungsten carbide for electric spark alloying using chromium carbide nanopowder additives, on the physico-chemical and operational characteristics of the coating surface. It is determined that an increase in the surface roughness occurs with an increase in the duration of an electric spark discharge from 20 to 80 μs with a standard WC-8% Co hard alloy. Introduction of the 1–5 wt.% nanopowder of the grain growth inhibitor improves the physicochemical properties of coatings, reduces surface roughness and increases wear resistance