Objective To explore the mechanism of EDC, and the influence between discharge channel and electrode during discharge process. Methods The research object of this paper is single pulse plasma discharge channel, which formed in liquid when manufacture TiC ceramic coating on 45 steel by electrical discharge coating technology. The particle-in-cell simulation method is utilized to describe the movement and distribution of titanium ions and electrons. Results Electronic movement was active in discharge channel, the electrons were aroused in negative electrode and rapidly move to the tool electrode, and the complicated interaction with other particles led to electrons quickly accumulate in tool electrode. Above-mentioned movement followed the collective motion features of plasma during the whole plasma formation process. At the same time step, the motion of titanium ion was much slower than electronic in plasma channel, and it took more time to move to the plate during the pulse discharge period. Conclusion It requires wider electrode distance when the electrical discharge coating is adopted compared with sinker EDM.