Technology and application of electro-spark deposited coatings

The paper described properties of electro-spark deposited coatings. The processes of coating formation on metal parts including electro-spark deposition involve mass and energy transport accompanied by chemical, electrochemical and electrothermal reactions. The tests were conducted to analyze the operational properties of steel beaters used in a hammer mill for waste paper recycling. The degree of wear and the development of wear processes were studied for specimens with and without electro-spark deposited coatings. The studies were conducted using WC-Co-Al2O3 electrodes produced by sintering powders. The anti-wear coatings were electro-spark deposited over C45 carbon steel by means of an EIL-8A.The operational properties of the specimens were assessed by analyzing their micostructure, microhardness, surface geometric structure, corrosion resistance and tribological properties. The results show that more effective methods are required to increase the durability of beaters for hammer mills.