Selection of electric spark processing modes for electrodes from sintered bronze

The method of electrospark machining has proven itself well in the technology of repair and restoration of parts. The operational properties of coatings obtained by this method depend on the microstructure, chemical and phase composition of the electrode materials. A significant improvement in operational properties, for example, wear resistance, is achieved by the formation of nanostructured coatings using electrodes with a certain content of alloying nanomaterials. It is possible to obtain such materials at the lowest cost by electro-erosion dispersion of machine-building waste. This article discusses the electrodes obtained by sintering bronze powder obtained by the method of electroerosive dispersion. Such materials are new for the process of electrospark machining; therefore, it is important to study and select the optimal application modes, since a qualitative characteristic of the process is the indicator of the transfer of the electrode material to the part, which depends on the processing modes and installation parameters. The aim of the study is to select the modes of the installation for electrospark treatment for optimal deposition of the material, as well as to study the degree of coating increment during electrospark treatment. Coating was carried out using an installation for electrospark treatment mod. «Westron» type AI-007, electrode material was obtained by the technology of spark plasma sintering of bronze powder, surfacing was carried out on steel samples 14 × 14 × 40 mm in size, the work also used an Acculab ALC-210d4 analytical balance and an MG micrometer Н25 GOST 6507-90. All coatings were applied to samples with an equal area in three layers under different processing conditions. After that, the increment in the thickness and mass of the electrode material on the sample surface was measured. Based on the results of the work, formulas were obtained and graphs were built. The most optimal mode of coating with an electrode made of sintered bronze obtained from machine-building waste by the method of electroerosive dispersion was determined, which proves the consistency of this method of obtaining electrode materials.