Electric heating using a liquid electrode

This work deals with analysis of the processes occurring in the electrolyte and in the plasma layer formed between the liquid electrode-anode and the solid workpiece surface. The electrolyte-plasma quenching method, in which the formation and stabilization of the plasma layer are supported by period ical increase and decrease of the electric voltage was utilized. Changing o f switching on time of an increased electric potential and varying its valu e, we could control the heating and cooling rates of the workpiece surface within 20-500 degreesC/s. This allowed us to form the quenched layers, with thickness from 1 to 10 mm. The possibility of controlling the rate of this periodical heating and cooling allowed us to realize the thermo-cycling tr eatment of surfaces. Applications of electrolyte plasma quenching include: inner cylindrical surfaces; workpieces, e.g. rolls, knives, saws in metallu rgy, metal mining industry and agriculture. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.