Metal Erosion from Electric Discharge

Abstract

Improvement of electrotechnical complexes and systems is often accompanied by a wide use of electrons and ions of different dischargers ( arc, glow discharge, hollow cathode, etc) as a plasma source. Development of a theory of complex interconnected processes of thermionic emission as well as problems of non- standard heat conductivity with phase transformations and ablation due to evaporation are becoming increasingly important. All these processes occur in the potential drop region of high power concentration. The paper considers the processes of obtaining metal vapor with the help of electric discharges. Calculated erosion series rates that include relative coefficients of erosion bulk velocity (cm³/K), velocity of erosion per time unit (cm³/s) and mass of erosion velocity (g/s) were constructed.