Wear resistance of electrospark WC–Cо coatings with different iron contents

Abstract

The work presents the results of investigating the influence of the ion concentration in the WC‒Co electrode materials on the structure and properties of the coatings deposited by electrospark deposition (ESD) on low-carbon steel. It has also been shown that iron concentration affects the character of mass transfer and thickness of the deposited coating. The phase composition, roughness, and wear resistance of the obtained coatings were studied under the conditions of the dry microabrasive rubbing. The increased iron concentration in the electrode materials was found to intensify the decarbidization of tungsten carbide at ESA.