SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS AND PROPERTIES OF TITANIUM ALLOYS ELECTROSPARK MODIFIED WITH TICN-BASED COMPOSITE ELECTRODES.

This paper presents the results of studies on the characteristics and properties of coatings on titanium alloy Ti6Al4V obtained by electrospark deposition with a tungsten-free hard alloy based on TiCN with a metal solder of 30% Ni and Mo. The coatings are applied on an apparatus with a vibrating electrode with a pulse energy of up to 0.07J. Through profilometric, light microscopic, SEM, EDS, XRD, and tribological studies, the influence of the energy parameters of the modes on the changes in the relief, topography, structure, composition, nano- and microhardness, friction coefficient, and wear resistance of the modified surfaces has been clarified. It was established that the increased content of Ni and Mo compared to that of the classic hard alloys of the KNT16 type allows the production of coatings with a thickness of up to 30 μm, with synthesized new intermetallic phases and crystalline-amorphous structures and improved adhesion to the titanium substrate. The conditions under which the most favorable composition and structure were obtained and the maximum increase in the microhardness and wear resistance of the modified surfaces were defined, respectively up to 3.5--4 times compared to those of the untreated titanium alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]