Hardening of leading edges of turbine blades by electrospark alloying

With a purpose of creating anti-erosion protection on turbine rotor blades the experiments in electrospark alloying using electrodes made of different materials: T15K6 hard alloy and 15Kh11MoFSh steel were conducted. Reduction of the roughness of a surface layer having a uniform thickness was achieved upon its hardening with a steel electrode. The electrospark alloying process was perfected. Tests of mechanical properties of blade samples hardened with steel revealed overmatch of GOST requirements for strength and ductility. Increasing of surface layer microhardness was also achieved. For anti-erosion protection of leading edges of the turbine rotor blades it is recommended to replace the applied electrode made of T15K6 alloy with the one made of 15Kh11MoFSh steel.