ASSESSMENT OF WEAR AND CORROSION RESISTANCE IN TiC AND WC COATINGS APPLIED TO AISI 1040 FORGED STEEL VIA ELECTROSPARK DEPOSITION

Electrospark deposition is a very efficient technique used to improve metallic material surfaces by applying ceramic coatings. This investigation employed the electrospark deposition approach to deposit titanium carbide and tungsten carbide coatings onto the surface of AISI 1040 forged steel. Subsequently, the coated surfaces were subjected to a microstructure examination, phase structure analysis, microhardness testing, friction testing, wear testing, and electrochemical corrosion testing. After that, the outcomes were compared to those of uncoated AISI 1040 forged steel. The forged steel with TiC and WC phase coatings applied with electrospark deposition was much better than the untreated AISI 1040 forged steel in terms of hardness, being more than four times harder. Both the friction coefficient and wear volume loss were reduced as a result. Furthermore, due to their decreased conductivity, the ceramic coatings that were applied to the surface showed a corrosion resistance that was 2–3 times higher than that of the uncoated forged steel. While TiC coatings may better enhance corrosion resistance, this study provides evidence that WC coatings could be a superior choice for improving the wear resistance of AISI 1040 forged steel.