High Temperature Material Processes (An International Quarterly of High-Technology Plasma Processes) An International Journal

ISSN for PRINT: 1093-3611

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2002, Volume6

Issue 1

130 pages

Issue price - $144.00

Marek Rabinski
1 Dept. of Plasma Physics and Technology, The Andrzej Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies, 05-400 Otwock-Swierk, Poland

Krzysztof Zdunek
Faculty of Materials Science, Warsaw University of Technology, 85 Narbutta, 02-524 Warsaw, Poland

This paper presents the results of physico-mathematical modelling of plasma dynamics in a coaxial accelerator for IPD (Impulse Plasma Deposition) process. Metallic plasma is generated within the working gas due to electric discharge, ignited within inter-electrode region. Plasma spreads out in the form of a dynamically moving electric current sheet which is accelerated by the Lorentz force. Conditions favourable for evaluation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability on the current sheet surface have been found during the computational studies of plasma movement. Appearance of this phenomenon explains non-uniform phase composition and morphology of coatings. By modifying the design of the plasma accelerator, we succeeded in reducing substantially R-T instability and in obtaining alpha-Al₂O₃ coatings instead of common gamma-Al₂O₃.
Proposed model, which is still being modified, does not yet take into account the effect of plasma being enriched with the products of the electrodes erosion. Nevertheless preliminary results have been obtained, accounting for the influence of eroded material on the dynamics of the discharge. Even at this stage the results of computer simulation are in semi-quantitative agreement with experimental observations.

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