Effect of periodic high-voltage discharge in a flow of liquid on the surface layers of structural steels and titanium alloys

Results of a study of the effect of electric pulse treatment with the use of high-voltage periodic discharge in a flow of water on the structure and hardness of surface layers of specimens of steels 45KhN2MFA, 30Kh3NMAF, 12Kh18N10T and titanium alloys OT4-1 and VT6 are described. It is shown that the structure and properties of the surface in the zone of the action of electric discharge change due to the rapid fusion, crystallization, and rapid hardening of microvolumes of specimens subjected to the highly concentrated energy action. The microhardness of the surface of specimens of pearlitic steels after such a treatment is higher than after volume quenching. The microhardness of the surface layers of specimens of austenitic steel 12Kh18N10T decreases. Hardening of the surface layers of titanium alloys under the action of high-voltage discharge is substantially higher than in the case of quenching, which seems to be connected with their saturation with oxygen and nitrogen from the ionized ambient. Some regular features of the influence of the conditions of periodic discharge on the structure and properties of surface layers of the studied materials are described.