Fabrication of TiC/WC ultra hard nanocomposite layers by plasma electrolysis and study of its characteristics

Ultra hard ceramic based matrix nanocomposite layers of tungsten carbide (WC) on matrix of titanium carbide were fabricated in an organic electrolyte. The dependence of WC amount in nanocomposite coatings was investigated in relation to the temperature of electrolyte, WC concentration in bath, current density and stirring rate. It was shown that volume percentage of WC in the layer can be affected by these parameters. The fabricated phases were studied with X-ray diffraction and their microhardness values were reached near to 2580 Hv0.5. Increasing of the WC nanoparticles concentration in the electrolyte in a constant stirring rate will lead to an increase in content of nanoparticles in the nanocomposite layers. Concentration of WC nanoparticles in the bath illustrated specific level for increasing of tungsten percentage in the nanocomposite layers. Concentration of WC nanoparticles in the bath had an optimum level around 6 g l− 1 for achieving the minimum nano-roughness on the surface of nanocomposite layer. It may vary for different current densities.