Nanostructuring of Metallic Surfaces by Electrospark Alloying Method

A new method of nanostructuring of the surface by electrospark alloying method (ESA) using special processing media (SPM) with carbon nanotubes is proposed. The influence on the ESA regimes and the composition of the SPM on the microstructure and hardness of the coatings has been considered. While processing the Armco iron, with an increase in the discharge energy, the thickness and continuity of the coating increase. In the microstructures, the nanoscale phases of 40 nm to 1300 nm are detected, and they are evenly distributed in the coatings. Adding nanotubes helps to increase the continuity, thickness and hardness. Because of the ESA process, coatings with a uniform distribution of molybdenum are formed. Carbon, apparently in the form of the carbon nanotubes, is concentrated on the surfaces of the samples being processed, regardless of the discharge energy during the ESA process. The use of the proposed ESA method has a positive effect on the quality parameters of the coating.