Use of SiC and Ti powders for electrospark deposition of cermet coatings on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy
https://doi.org/10.17073/1997-308X-2026-2-61-70
Abstract
The effect of SiC-to-Ti powder ratio in the electrode on electrospark deposition and the properties of Ti–Si–C cermet coatings on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy was investigated. Cathode mass decreased monotonically with increasing in SiC content in the electrode. The resulting coatings were 44.7–54.6 µm thick. Under low-voltage electrical discharge conditions, silicon carbide reacted with titanium melt to form titanium carbide (TiC) and titanium silicide (Ti5Si3 ). The coating structure contained TiC and Ti5Si3 crystallites, together with a small amount of SiC residual inclusions. The SiC inclusions exhibited poor adhesion to α-Ti. The carbon and silicon contents of the coatings increased monotonically with increasing SiC content in the electrode. All coatings were highly hydrophobic, with water contact angles exceeding 120°. Their microhardness ranged from 9.2 to 12.2 GPa. The Ti–Si–C coatings had lower coefficients of friction than the uncoated titanium alloy. The coating deposited using an electrod powder mixture containing 40 vol. % SiC and 60 vol. % Ti had the highest hardness and wear resistance. This coating increased the wear resistance of Ti6Al4V alloy components by a factor of 30.
About the Authors
A. A. BurkovRussian Federation
Alexandr A. Burkov – Cand. Sci. (Phys.-Math.), Senior ResearchScientist, Head of the Laboratory of Physicochemical Fundamentals of Materials Technology
153 Tikhookeanskaya Str., Khabarovsk 680042, Russia
S. V. Nikolenko
Russian Federation
Sergey V. Nikolenko – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Acting Director, Institute of Materials Science
153 Tikhookeanskaya Str., Khabarovsk 680042, Russia
N. A. Shelmenok
Russian Federation
Natalya A. Shelmenok – Student
29 Pushkin Str., Khabarovsk 680000, Russia
References
1. Atar E., Kayali E.S., Cimenoglu H. Characteristics and wear performance of borided Ti6Al4V alloy. Surface and Coatings Technology. 2008;202(19):4583–4590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2008.03.011
2. Singla A.K., Banerjee M., Sharma A., Singh J., Bansal A., Gupta M.K. Selective laser melting of Ti6Al4V alloy: Process parameters, defects and post-treatments. Journal of Manufacturing Processes. 2021;64:161–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2021.01.009
3. Liu S., Shin Y.C. Additive manufacturing of Ti6Al4V alloy: A review. Materials & Design. 2019;164:107552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2018.107552
4. Molinari A., Straffelini G., Tesi B., Bacci T. Dry sliding wear mechanisms of the Ti6Al4V alloy. Wear. 1997:208(1–2):105–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1648(96)07454-6
5. Estupinán-López F., Orquiz-Muela C., Gaona-Tiburcio C., Cabral-Miramontes J., Bautista-Margulis R.G., Nieves-Mendoza D., Maldonado-Bandala E., Almeraya-Calderon F.A., Lopes A.J. Oxidation kinetics of Ti–6Al–4V alloys by conventional and electron beam additive manufacturing. Materials. 2023;16(3):1187. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031187
6. Shcherban N.D. Review on synthesis, structure, physical and chemical properties and functional characteristics of porous silicon carbide. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. 2017;50:15–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2017.02.002
7. Ordine A., Achete C.A., Mattos O.R., Margarit I.C.P., Camargo Jr.S.S., Hirsch T. Magnetron sputtered SiC coatings as corrosion protection barriers for steels. Surface and Coatings Technology. 2000;133–134:583–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0257-8972(00)00976-2
8. Shikunov S., Kaledin A., Shikunova I.A., Straumal B., Kurlov V. Novel method for deposition of gas-tight SiC coatings. Coatings. 2023;13(2):354. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13020354
9. Adebiyi D.I., Popoola A.P.I., Botef I. Low pressure cold spray coating of Ti–6Al–4V with SiC-based cermet. Materials Letters. 2016;175:63–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2016.03.142
10. Kaloyeros A.E., Arkles B. Silicon carbide thin films: Innovations in property, process, and applications. In: Silicon carbide – materials, devices and emerging applications. 1st ed. Ch. 3. IntechOpen, 2025. P. 37–48. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1008414
11. Zhao Y., Liang G., Zhang X., Zhao X., Li W., Seniuts U., Cheng B. Formation mechanism of Ti–Si multi-layer coatings on the surface of Ti–6Al–4V alloy. Coatings. 2024;14(4):450. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14040450
12. Feng M., Ma Y., Tian Y., Cao H. Microstructure and wear resistance of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy laser-clad Ni60/WC composite coating. Materials. 2024;17(1):264. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010264
13. Wang H., Wu A., Wu M., Miao X. SiC reinforced Ti-based coatings: In-situ generation of TiC and strengthening mechanism. Ceramics International. 2025;51(25): 46514–46525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.07.357
14. Qi Y., Gao J., Liang W., Miao Q., Jia F., Chang X., Lin H. A comparison of the tribological properties of SiC coatings prepared via atmospheric plasma spraying and chemical vapor deposition for carbon/carbon composites. Lubricants. 2024;12(9):301. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12090301
15. Li T., Zhang Y., Lv J. Preparing the SiC coated C/C composites with excellent mechanical and antioxidative properties using a buffer layer. Journal of the European Ceramic Society. 2022;42(10):4162–4171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2022.03.063
16. Zhao Z., Guo Y., Du W., Bai P., Zhang Z., Wang L., Ma K., Zhang S., Han X., Yang C. Corrosion behavior of SiC/Ti6Al4V titanium matrix composites fabricated by SLM. Journal of Materials Research and Technology. 2024;31:534–542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.06.093
17. Peng H., Shi X., Jiao F., Ti X., Du L. Convenient reparation of SiC-coated C/C composites by the slurry painting method. Materials. 2024;7(18):4515. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17184515
18. Li N., Xiong Y., Xiong H., Shi G., Blackburn J., Liu W., Qin R. Microstructure, formation mechanism and property characterization of Ti + SiC laser cladded coatings on Ti6Al4V alloy. Materials Characterization. 2019;148: 43–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2018.11.032
19. Machethe K.E., Popoola A.P.I., Adebiyi D.I., Fayomi O.S.I. Influence of SiC–Ti/Al on the microstructural and mechanical properties of deposited Ti–6V–4Al alloy with cold spray technique. Procedia Manufacturing. 2017;7:549–555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2016.12.069
20. Perumal G., Geetha M., Asokamani R., Alagumurthi N. A comparative study on the wear behavior of Al2O3 and SiC coated Ti–6Al–4V alloy developed using plasma spraying technique. Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals. 2013;66(2):109–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-012-0234-6
21. Thirumalvalavan S., Senthilkumar N., Perumal G., Padmanaban M.R.A. Ameliorating the wear defiance of HVOF thermal spray silicon carbide coated Ti-6Al–4V alloy using PCA-GRA technique. Silicon. 2022;14(6):3101–3117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-022-01706-7
22. Gaponova O.P., Tarelnyk V.B., Tarelnyk N.V., Myslyvchenko O.M. Nanostructuring of metallic surfaces by electrospark alloying method. JOM. 2023;75(9): 3400–3412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-023-05940-1
23. Penyashki T., Kostadinov G., Kandeva M. Improvement of surface properties of carbon steel through electrospark coatings from multicomponent hard alloys. Materials. 2025;18(10):2211. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18102211
24. Rukanskis M. Control of metal surface mechanical and tribological characteristics using cost effective electro-spark deposition. Surface Engineering and Applied Electrochemistry. 2019;55(5):607–619. https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068375519050107
25. Burkov A.A., Kulik M.A., Krutikova V.O. Electrospark deposition of tungsten carbide powder on titanium alloy Ti6Al4V. Letters on Materials. 2021;11(2):175–180. https://doi.org/10.22226/2410-3535-2021-2-175-180
26. Snead L.L. Limits on irradiation-induced thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity in silicon carbide materials. Journal of Nuclear Materials. 2004;329–333:524–529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2004.04.294
27. Li Y.C., Zhang W.W., Wang Y., Zhang X.Y., Sun L.L. Effect of spray powder particle size on the bionic hydrophobic structures and corrosion performance of Fe-based amorphous metallic coatings. Surface and Coatings Technology. 2022;437:128377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2022.128377
28. Almond E.A., Gee M.G. Results from a U.K. interlaboratory project on dry sliding wear. Wear. 1987;120(1): 101–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1648(87)90136-0
29. Kennedy F.E., Lu Y., Baker I. Contact temperatures and their influence on wear during pin-on-disk tribotesting. Tribology International. 2015;82:534–542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2013.10.022
30. Nataraja M., Balakumar G., Santhosh N., Naik M.R. Characterization of wear rate of Al–12 wt% Si alloy based MMC reinforced with ZrO2 particulates. Materials Research Express. 2024;11(3):036522. https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ad3468
31. Burkov A.A., Krutikova V.O., Bitsura A.Yu., Khe V.K. Ti–Cr–Cu electrospark coatings on steel St3. Problemy chernoi metallurgii i materialovedeniya. 2023;(1):93–104. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.54826/19979258_2023_1_93
32. Burkov A.A., Kulik M.A., Krutikova V.O. Characteristics of Ti–Si coatings on Ti6Al4V alloy deposited by electric spark treatment in the medium of granules. Tsvetnye metally. 2019;(4):54–59. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17580/tsm.2019.04.07
33. Liang D., Liu X., Zhou Y., Wei Y., Wei X., Xu G., Shen J. Effects of annealing below glass transition temperature on the wettability and corrosion performance of Fe-based amorphous coatings. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters). 2022;35(2):243–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40195-021-01228-y
Review
For citations:
Burkov A.A., Nikolenko S.V., Shelmenok N.A. Use of SiC and Ti powders for electrospark deposition of cermet coatings on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy. Powder Metallurgy аnd Functional Coatings (Izvestiya Vuzov. Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya i Funktsional'nye Pokrytiya). 2026;20(2):61-70. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17073/1997-308X-2026-2-61-70
JATS XML

























