Investigation of abrasive wear resistance of electrospark deposited (ESD) coatings for drum mower blades

Electrospark deposition method creates thin coatings with high hardness. This property of coating is very useful for abrasive wear resistant material. For our research the coatings produced with the help of three different electrodes were used for laboratory and field tests. Laboratory test was made by ASTM G65-94 standard method. Field tests were performed with drum mower. For these test we covered mower blades in the same electrodes and conditions as laboratory test. During field test it was found that blades covered only on back side has lower wear than covered only on front side. Also it was found that blades covered on back side has sharper cutting edge.