Computing Center of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Khabarovsk, Russia

М. I. Dvornik, Senior Researcher, Candidate of Technical Sciences, e-mail: maxxxx80@mail.ru
К. А. Chekhonin, Leading Researcher, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Spherical particles can be obtained from pieces of a hard alloy using the method of electroerosion dispersion. In this paper, the energy consumption and productivity of the powder production process by electroerosion dispersion of WC – 5 TiC – 10 Co hard alloy in oil, ethanol and isopropanol are studied. The chemical, phase, morphological, and granulometric composition of the obtained powders was also determined. A specially designed unit consisting of a pulse generator and a container with a dielectric liquid was used for dispersion. The resulting polydisperse powder consisted of spherical particles formed by fragmentation of a liquid melt and subsequent rapid crystallization of alloy fragments and vapors. It is shown that due to the use of high–power pulses (about 9.6–10.5 joules), the specific energy consumption in the production of 1 kg of powder by electroerosion dispersion of WC – TiC – Co alloy is relatively low (3.3–4.5 kW·h). The lowest energy consumption (3.3 kW·h/kg) and the highest productivity (76 g/h) were observed when dispersed in oil, and the highest energy consumption (4.2 kW·h/kg) and the lowest productivity (54 g/h) were observed when dispersed in isopropanol. The type of dielectric liquid used has a strong influence on the carbon content of the powder. When dispersed in a hydrocarbon dielectric (oil, etc.), the carbon concentration increased from 6.1% in the initial alloy to 8.4% in the resulting powder. When dispersed in ethanol, the change in carbon concentration was insignificant (about 0.1%). It has been established that diffusion processes occurring in a molten alloy bath lead to the complete dissolution of tungsten carbide in cubic carbide (Ti, W)C, which is preserved in the formed particles. The resulting powder consists mainly of spherical particles with a diameter of 10 to 50 microns (more than 50% of the volume) and can be used in laser additive technologies.
The study was carried out within the framework of the state assignment of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation for the Khabarovsk Federal Research Center of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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