Obtaining Functional Materials for Restoring and Strengthening Coverage Based on Complex usage of Mineral Raw Materials

This article is devoted to the development of tungsten-free electrode materials for use in electrospark alloying (ESA), with boron-containing mineral raw material employed as an additive. Data are presented regarding the surface layers formed on AISI 1045 steel via the ESA method, using titanium carbide electrodes with a nickel molybdenum ligament and mineral raw material additive (datolite concentrate (DTC)). In addition, the alloy layer (AL) formation process on AISI 1045 steel via mechanized ESA using a tungsten-free hard alloy with 0.5-3 mass. % datolite concentrate additive is also studied. The most effective ESA mode in terms of the composition of the formed AL was: frequency 500 Hz and duration of spark discharge 20-80 μs for electrode D2 with 1% additive. The formation of nanostructures produced by TiC nanoparticles in the AL during the ESA process was determined via atomic force microscopy. The introduction of DTC increased both the productivity of the ESA process and the micro abrasive wear of the AL. Synthesized powder WC can be used for gas-thermal hardening surfaces of mobile materials and building structures.