Metallic Surface Modification Via Thermal Plasma Techniques

Abstract

AbstractA thermal plasma arc technique has been used to modify selected metallic surface and near surface properties at ambient pressures. This experimental study was implemented by treating several steel test specimens, at elevated temperatures, in a pure argon plasma and in two preblended argon/ active gas mixtures. One of the argon/active gas plasma mixtures produced significant chemical surface modifications in the steel test specimens treated in this atmosphere. Ions and free radical fragments, produced from the active gas, were responsible for the observed changes in the chemical composition of the steel surface. The other plasma treated specimens did not exhibit any changes in chemical specific details and results obtained, during this study, have been described.