Structure of electroexplosive TiB₂–Ni composite coatings after electron beam processing

High-intensity electron beam modification of electroexplosive TiB₂–Ni composite coatings is conducted for the first time. The phase and elemental composition of the surface layer of steel Hardox 450 subjected to electroexplosive spraying (EES) of the TiB₂–Ni composite coating and subsequent irradiation with a submillisecond high-intensity pulsed electron beam are studied. Electron beam processing (EBP) modes that provide the formation of dense glossy surface layers based on titanium diboride and nickel with a submicrocrystalline structure are revealed. It is shown that EBP of a layer subjected to EES conducted in a melting mode leads to the formation of a surface layer with homogeneous structure and concentration.