The allocation of the micro- hardness of steel under pulsed plasma treatment

In this paper, we investigate the dependence of micro-hardness and structure of the modified layer samples of steel U8 on the parameters of pulsed plasma treatment. To create a pulsed high plasma flows at atmospheric pressure was used the original design of the axial plasma electro- thermal accelerator operating in gas-dynamic mode. The density and plasma temperature of about 1016 sm-3 and (1-2 )eV, re-spectively. Experimentally determined the optimal parameters of pulsed-plasma treatment that allow you to mix the thickest modified (white) layer and the high values of micro- hardness: pulsed arc discharge voltage -4.0 kV, the distance from the sample to the source of 30 mm, the number of pulses processing: N = 2?6, layer thickness - (51-73) mcm. For a different number of pulses processing experimental curves micro- hardness samples depth of the modified layer are obtained. Micro- hardness varies with distance into the sample to the level of reference values (i.e., the untreated sample). Defined modes that let you control the distribution of micro hardness depth of the sample. It is possible to obtain maximum values of micro -hardness on the surface or the maximum in depth of the modified layer at a distance of ? (0,02-0,08) mm from the surface. The mechanisms of formation and localization of these maxima are discussed