Hardening of metal product surface layers by the combined gas discharge plasma

The properties of a low-pressure combined gas discharge initiated in a resonator chamber near the surface of a metal workpiece subjected to the superposition of high electromagnetic and electrostatic fields have been studied. It has been shown that, when a constant potential is applied to the workpiece, a layer forms on its surface in which positive ions or electrons (depending on the sign of the potential) accelerate to an energy as high as several hundred electronvolts. The interaction between accelerated particles and the workpiece causes the liberation of heat in the surface layer, which is sufficient for its complete melting. If the applied potential is positive, a hardening nanostructure arises on the workpiece surface. The physical parameters of the combined gas discharge have been estimated.