Modification of the copper surface layer by the compression plasma flow

The surface morphology and microstructure of copper М1 treated by the compression plasma flow have been investigated by the methods of optical microscopy and X-ray structural analysis. The correlation between the structure, microhardness and the amount of energy absorbed by the sample surface (5–18 J/cm$^2$) has been found. The thickness of the modified layer is about 36 $\mu m$ (at the absorbed energy density — 18 J/cm$^2$).