Microstructural Modification of Brush-Plated Nanocrystalline Cr by High Current Pulsed Electron Beam Irradiation

Abstract

Cr layer was fabricated on 40Cr steel by electric brush plating process and then treated by high current pulsed electron beam irradiation technique. Surface microstructures of specimens before and after the irradiation were investigated. Results show that Cr surface is composed of uniformly distributed small nodule units which are composed of fine Cr particles smaller than 100nm. After high current pulsed electron beam treatment, many cracks are found on surface. The main reason is possibly due to the quasi-static thermal stresses accumulated along the surface of the specimens during the electron beam treatment. The surface grain grow from Cr particles because of heating by electron beam, and their size is less than 200nm.