Characteristic Features of Structure and Analysis of Friction Behavior of Electric-Spark Coatings from Powder Wires

Abstract

The structure, phase and chemical composition of electric-spark coatings (ESC) obtained on the Elitron installation from powder electrode wires were investigated using a Neophot-2 optical computer microscope, an EVO-40XVP (Carl Zeiss) scanning electron microscope, DRON-3.0 X-ray diffractometer, EXPERT 02L elemental composition analyzer. The structure of the ESC is an austenitic matrix with boride inclusions (Fe,Cr)B, iron boride Fe2B, chromium borides of iron Cr1.65Fe0.35B0.96. The distribution of Cr, Fe and C in these coatings is uneven and varies in wide range. The micromechanical characteristics of the modified surface layer of steel 45 were analyzed using Ultra Nano Hardness Tester and Nan Scratch Tester. The article provides an analysis of the frictional behavior of the ESC under conditions of dry friction and boundary lubrication according to the finger-disc scheme. Frictional stability of such coatings indicates the expediency of using electric-spark alloying (ESA) technology with powder wires (PW) and powder wires with graphite (PWG) to increase the service life of both machine parts and cutting tools.

Keywords

• wear resistance
• spectral analysis
• dry friction
• powder wire
• electric-spark coating
• micromechanical characteristics
• phase analysis
• frictional behavior