Production of a large area diffuse arc plasma with multiple cathode

An arc channel at atmospheric pressure tends to shrink generally. In this paper, a non-transferred DC arc plasma device with multiple cathode is introduced to produce a large area arc plasma at atmospheric pressure. This device is comprised of a 42-mm diameter tubular chamber, multiple cathode which is radially inserted into the chamber, and a tungsten anode with a nozzle in its center. In argon/helium atmosphere, a large area and circumferential homogenous diffuse arc plasma, which fills the entire cross section surrounded by the cathode tips, is observed. Results show that the uniformity and stability of diffuse arc plasma are strongly related to the plasma forming gas. Based on these experimental results, an explanation to the arc diffusion is suggested. Moreover, the electron excitation temperature and electron density measured in diffuse helium plasma are much lower than those of constricted arc column, which indicates the diffuse helium plasma probably deviates from the local thermodynamic equilibrium state. Unlike the common non-transferred arc plasma devices, this device can provide a condition for axial-fed feedstock particles. The plasma device is attempted to spheroidize alumina powders by using the central axis to send the powder. Results show that the powder produced is usually a typical hollow sphere.

Evolution of γ’ Particles in Ni-Based Superalloy Weld Joint and Its Effect on Impact Toughness During Long-Term Thermal Exposure

Effects of long-term thermal exposure on γ’ particles evolution and impact toughness in the weld joint of Nimonic 263(N263)superalloy were deeply studied at 750℃.Results showed that the precipitates in the weld metal were mainly composed of fine γ’ particles,bulky MC carbides,and small M23C6 carbides.With the thermal exposure time increasing from o to 3000 h,γ’ particles in the weld metal grew up from 19.7 nm to 90.1 nm at an extremely slow rate.After being exposed for 1000 h,γ’ particles coarsened and some of them transformed into acicular η phase.At the same time,MC carbides decomposed to form η phase and γ’ particles.This dynamic transition ensured the slight reduction in impact toughness of the weld metal after the thermal exposure,which indicated the stable serving performance of N263 weld joint.

Characterization of Multi-layer Weld Metal and Creep–Rupture Behavior of Modified 10Cr–1Mo Welded Joint

The rupture behavior of the modified 10Cr–1Mo steel multi-layer welded joint is determined by the fine-grain zones of the weld metal adjacent to the fusion line during the long-term creep test at 620℃. The microstructures of multi-layer weld metal before and after the creep tests were characterized in detail, and its role in creep behavior was systematically investigated. Most grain boundaries of subgrains represented the low-angle boundaries in the weld metal adjacent to the fusion line both before and after the creep test. The widths of grains in the fine-grain zones were about 0.5–1 μm. The fracture morphology appeared as "wave" structure due to the cracking initiating from multi-layer grain boundaries in the fine-grain zones. Some W elements that melted into weld metal adjacent to the fusion line altered the thermodynamic and kinetic conditions of the Laves phase formation during long-term creep exposure. Laves phase particles mainly distributed along the grain boundaries due to the faster diffusion and segregation of Mo, W, and Si elements. Moreover, higher-density grain boundaries in the fine-grain zones led to easier nucleation and growth of Laves phase particles. Compared with other areas in the welded joint, the size of Laves phase particles in the fine-grain zones of the weld metal adjacent to the fusion line was the largest ones. The interface between Laves phase particles and the matrix acted as the nucleation site of creep micro-cavities. The creep micro-cavities grew up at the expense of fine-grain boundaries and even grew across the grain boundary deeply into adjacent grains, and then developed to cracks in the fine-grain zones.