Coatings Prepared by Electro-Spark Alloying with SHS Electrode Materials Based on Ti-B-Fe-AlN

In this work, the features of the phase composition, structures, and properties of coatings obtained on a high-speed steel substrate (steel R6M5) were studied. The coatings were prepared using the ESA method (electro-spark alloying). Electrode materials prepared through self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) based on (Ti-B-Fe)(x)AlN with the addition of nanosized AlN particles in the amount of x = 0.5, 10, 15 wt % were used as electrodes. The structure, phase composition, and physical and mechanical properties of the SHS electrode materials are reported. It was found that the coatings inherited the structure of the SHS electrode material and formed two characteristic zones for x = 0 and three zones for x = 5, 10, 15. The surface hardness of the substrate made of the high-speed steel R6M5 with the developed coatings was found to increase up to five times compared to the uncoated substrate. It was found that the wear resistance of the samples with the coating was four to six times higher than that of uncoated samples.