Patent ID: 7910176

Claim:
A method for discharge surface treatment of a work piece with an electrode, the electrode being made of a green compact obtained by compression-molding an electrode material including powder of any of a metal, a metallic compound, and ceramics, and the discharge surface treatment generating an electric discharge between the electrode and the work piece in an atmosphere of a machining medium and forming a film consisting of a machining material on a surface of a work piece using energy produced by the electric discharge, comprising: using in the discharge surface treatment an electrode made of a powder that has an average particle diameter of 1 micrometer to 5 micrometers and contains 40 volume percent or more of a component not forming or less easily forming carbide as a component for forming the film on the work piece, and that has a hardness in a range of 20 to 50 in hardness H=100−1000×h calculated when a press-in distance at the time when a steel ball with a diameter of ¼ inch is pressed against the electrode at 15 kgf is h (μm).