Quality Surface Modification for Refractory Stainless Steel by Tungsten Deposition, Using Electro-Spark Deposition Method

Abstract

In this paper were analyzed Tungsten electrode depositions using electro-spark deposition method, on stainless steel, used for hydraulic turbine vanes and blades of mixing blades for chemical industry, in order to achieve an improved wear resistance. This deposition method was chosen due to its relatively low cost, easy to achieve, and leads to obtaining thin layers with good adherence to the substrate, and with different thicknesses, depending on the number of deposited layers. The chosen electrode is an alpha character element and generates an increase of the mechanical properties at low and high temperatures for austenitic stainless steels. Tungsten does not modify the corrosion resistance for the stainless steels. The samples were analyzed on scanning electrons microscope (SEM) and also the chemical analysis (EDX) for distinguish the layer-support structure and the elements repartition on the surface and in line.