SW7M steel layers produced in the conditions of rapid cooling and heating by the pulse-plasma method

The properties and structure of SW7M steel layers that crystallize from pulse plasma on substrates cyclically heated to a temperature of about 2000 K and cooled to a temperature of 373 K at a rate of 107 K/s have been examined. The metastable ultrafinegrained layers thus obtained have hardness of about 21000 HV 0.05. The cyclic heating and cooling at a rate of 107 K/s do not affect directly the phase composition of the layers, but define the 'stationary temperature' that is settled during the process as a result of the cyclic action of the plasma upon the substrate. This 'stationary temperature' is a process parameter determining the phase composition of the produced layers. (author). 9 refs, 6 figs, 3 tabs