Microstructure and Microhardness of TiC Particles Reinforced Coating In-situ Deposited on Titanium Alloy Surface by Electrospark Process

Taking the graphite as electrode, TiC particles were deposited on BT20 titanium alloy surface by eletrospark processing to form a reinforced coating. The microstructure and microhardness of the coating were studied. The results show that the coating was discontinuous and uneven with the thickness of 10-30 μm. The distribution of TiC particles in the reinforced coating was non-uniform, most of TiC existed on the reinforced coating surface and a little inside of the reinforced coating, which made the microhardness of the reinforced coating 4 times higher than that of the titanium alloy substrate.