Electro-spark deposition: A technique for producing wear resistant coatings

Abstract

Electro-spark deposition (ESD) is a coating process using short duration, high current electrical pulses to deposit an electrode material on a metallic substrate. A principal attribute of the process is its ability to apply metallurgically bonded coatings with such a low total heat input that the bulk substrate material remains at or near ambient temperatures. A review of the process is briefly given, then current research using WC-TiC and Cr{sub 3}C{sub 2} electrodes to deposit coatings on Type 316 stainless steel and other substrates is presented. The ESD carbide coatings were found to be exceptionally hard, wear-resistant and spalling-resistant in high-stress rubbing tests. Several applications for nuclear reactor components are described. 17 refs., 18 figs., 1 tab.