A Study on the Surface Hardness Obtained by Nitriding with a Plasma Focus Machine

A dense plasma focus (DPF) machine, being a source of a powerful ion beam, can be useful in the modification of the surface properties of materials. Experimental investigations were carried out with a 3.3 kJ Mather-type DPF operating in nitrogen at a low chamber pressure with low carbon steel as the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Teh, Thiam Oun, Arwinder, Singh*, Jalil, Ali, Ng, Chee An, Ng, Xue Yinn, Wong, Jun Wen, Saw, Sor Heoh, Lee, Sing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1270/
http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1270/1/Awinder.pdf
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Summary:A dense plasma focus (DPF) machine, being a source of a powerful ion beam, can be useful in the modification of the surface properties of materials. Experimental investigations were carried out with a 3.3 kJ Mather-type DPF operating in nitrogen at a low chamber pressure with low carbon steel as the target material. It was found that the DPF ion beam implanted nitrogen onto the steel surface thereby causing a marked increase in surface hardness. The variation of pressure and target distances appear to affect the outcome of this nitriding technique with optimum hardness reached at the pressure setting of 1 Torr and at a target distance of 40 mm from the anode.