Electrospark deposition of metalloceramic Fe–Al/HfC coating on steel 1035

To improve the tribotechnical behavior and heat resistance of steel 1035, composite metalloceramic Fe–Al/HfC coatings were prepared by electrospark deposition. A non-localized anode was used as an electrode consisting of a mixture of iron and aluminum granules with a molar ratio of 3:2 and with the addition of HfC powder. The cathode gain had positive values indicating that HfC powder can be deposited on steel 1035 using the Fe60Al40 anode mixture. Moreover, the cathode gain monotonically increased with the increase in addition of HfC powder to the anode mixture. The coatings structure is represented by a matrix of FeAl intermetallic compound reinforced with HfC grains, which corresponds to the structure of a metalloceramic composite. Concentration of HfC in the coating increased with the addition of HfC powder to the anode mixture. Deposition of Fe–Al/HfC coatings according to the proposed technique allows reducing the friction coefficient of steel 1035 from 6 to 40 vol. %. Depending on the concentration of HfC in the anode mixture, the wear resistance of Fe–Al/HfC coatings varied nonmonotonically with a maximum at 8 vol. %. The use of Fe–Al/HfC coatings makes it possible to increase the wear resistance of the steel surface to 10 times. Comparison of the final weight gain of the samples after 100 h of oxidation resistance tests at a temperature of 700 °C allows us to conclude that electrospark deposition Fe–Al/HfC coatings can increase the oxidation resistance of steel 1035 by 1.7–2.2 times. Analysis of the study results shows that adhesion of Fe–Al composition to HfC is weak. This was reflected in decrease in hardness, wear resistance and oxidation resistance of coatings with an increase in the concentration of HfC in the anode mixture above 8 vol. %.