Journal Article

Characteristics and Microstructure of Coatings of Ultradisperse TiB 2 -TiAl Electrodes with Nanosized Additives Deposited on Ti-Gr2 by Non-Contact Electrospark Deposition

Kostadinov, Georgi, Sofronov, Yavor, Petrov, Krum, Tzaneva, Boriana, Miltchev, Radoslav, Nikolov, Antonio, Dimitrova, Rayna, Penyashki, Todor, Mishev, Valentin, Gavrilov, Todor

2026

Overview

The article considers issues related to improving the surface characteristics of titanium Gr2 using one of the lightest, cheapest and most ecological methods-electrospark deposition with low pulse energy and with ultradisperse electrodes TiB -TiAl with nanosized additives of NbC and ZrO . Using profilometric, metallographic, XRD, SEM and EDS methods, the change in the geometric characteristics, composition, structure, micro and nanohardness of the coatings as a function of the electrical parameters of the ESD regime has been studied. The results show that the use of TiB -TiAl electrodes and low pulse energy allows the formation of dense, continuous and uniform coatings that demonstrate a significant reduction in roughness, inherent irregularities and structural defects of electrospark coatings. Coatings with minimal defects, with crystalline-amorphous structures, with newly formed intermetallic and wear-resistant double and triple phases of the type AlTi , TiAl , TiB, TiN , Al O , AlB , TiC N , Ti B N , Al O N have been obtained. Possibilities have been found for controlling and obtaining specific values for the roughness and thickness of coatings in the ranges Ra = 1.5-3.2 µm and δ = 8-19.5 µm, respectively. The electrical parameters of the modes ensure the production of coatings with previously known thickness and roughness, with increased microhardness up to 13 GPa, with the maximum possible content of deliberately synthesized high-hard phases and with ultra-fine-grained structures have been defined.