Influence of deposition voltage on tribological properties of W-WS2 coatings deposited by electrospark deposition

Electrospark deposition coatings were prepared with different deposition voltage on CrNi3MoVA steel substrates by using a W-WS2 sintered electrode and their tribological properties were investigated. The microhardness, roughness and tribological properties of the coatings were tested by using Vickers hardness tester, confocal laser scanning microscope and tribometer, and the morphologies, composition and phase structure were obtained by utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS) and X-ray diffraction(XRD). The results showed that with the increase of deposition voltage, the hardness and roughness of the coatings increase. The coatings remarkably increase the tribological properties of CrNi3MoVA steel, and among the three coatings deposited at 40 V, 60 V and 80 V, the coating deposited at 60 V has the smallest friction coefficient and the best wear resistance.