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 periodical increase and decrease of the electric voltage was utilized. Changing of switching on time of an increased electric potential and varying its value, we could control the heating and cooling rates of the workpiece surface within 20–500°C/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 treatment of surfaces. Applications of electrolyte plasma quenching include: inner cylindrical surfaces; workpieces, e.g. rolls, knives, saws in metallurgy, metal mining industry and agriculture.