Structure and phase composition of WNb alloy formed by compression plasma flows impact

Abstract

The results of tungsten-niobium alloy synthesis by pulsed compression plasma flows impact are presented. The tungsten plates with a 2 μm thin niobium coating were treated with dense compression plasma flows generated by a quasi-stationary plasma accelerator. The plasma influence with the absorbed energy density of 35-70 J/cm2 and pulse duration of 100 μs melts the niobium coating and a part of the tungsten substrate, which makes their liquid-phase mixing and WNb alloy synthesis after the crystallization possible. Simulation of the temperature distribution in the top layer of the tungsten after the plasma treatment proves the melted state. The methods of scanning-electron microscopy (SEM) as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used for the structure and phase composition detection. The obtained results showed the thickness of the WNb alloy 10-20 μm where W(Nb) bcc solid solution had been found