Wear and corrosion behavior of TiC and WC coatings deposited on high-speed steels by electro-spark deposition

Abstract

Abstract Electro-spark deposition (ESD) is one of the most effective methods for improving the surfaces of metallic materials by applying ceramic-based cermet coatings. In this study, TiC and WC coatings were deposited on the surface of AISI M2 high-speed steel using the ESD method. Subsequently, the coated surfaces were examined through microstructure, phase structure, microhardness, friction, wear, and electrochemical corrosion tests, and compared with untreated AISI M2 steel. The TiC and WC phase coatings obtained with ESD resulted in a significant improvement, with hardness levels exceeding four times that of AISI M2 steel, leading to reduced wear volume losses and friction coefficients. Furthermore, the cermet coatings formed on the surface exhibited 2–3 times improvement in corrosion resistance due to their lower conductivity. This study demonstrates that WC coatings may offer a more effective solution for enhancing the wear resistance of AISI M2 steel, while TiC coatings could be more effective in improving corrosion resistance.