Steel surface processing by a continuous optical discharge plasma

The influence of a continuous optical discharge (COD) plasma generated in flowing argon and argon-nitrogen mixture on alloy and carbon steel surfaces has been investigated. Changes in the structure, element composition, and microhardness of steel surface layers under the action of a COD plasma and laser beam were observed. In the presence of a COD plasma the microhardness distribution in hardened zone reaches its maximum at the metal surface and is different from that measured for samples processed by laser beam only.