THE EROSION OF METALS BY A PULSED PLASMA STREAM,
Abstract
Additional results are reported on work designed to establish the erosion of metal surfaces subjected to pulse flows of plasma. The initial work reported previously was limited to observations utilizing a 900 Joule discharge. Here the effects of discharge energy variation are studied. The metallic samples in the form of plates were placed 4.5 mm from the plasmatron nozzle. In all the samples studied (Pb, Al, Cu, Fe, Ni) erosion occurs at all discharge energies. It shows that molten metal leaves the central spot and is ejected radially. Basically, two regimes of operation were found: when the discharge energy was less than 200 Joules, the mass leaving the central crater was deposited radially; when a higher energy was used, most of the molten and evaporated metal left the sample. The experiments suggest that a strong similarity exists between the erosion of metals by plasma streams and electrode erosion in electric discharges.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 21, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0695923
Entities
People
- L. I. Kiselevskii
- V. A. Morozov
Organizations
- National Air and Space Intelligence Center