Stability of Steel X03Cr23Ni6Mo4Cu3NbN (after ESR) Against the Impact of Products of the Atmospheric Pressure Surface Discharge Plasma

Abstract

Under the effect of the surface discharge in air at atmospheric pressure, the edge of the electrode exposed in the plasma undergoes significant changes (oxidation, erosion, local melting, redeposition of oxides from the gas phase, etc.). The degradation of the working electrode, in the cases, e.g., aluminum or copper electrodes, can cause a continuous change in the electrical characteristics of the device, the executive part of which is the surface discharge system. This work presents the results of an experimental study of the effect of surface discharge plasma products excited by a sinusoidal voltage of 20 and 110 kHz in ambient air on steel X03Cr23Ni6Mo4Cu3NbN (after ESR) acting as an exposed electrode. It is shown that, despite the occurrence of microdamages on the surface of the sample and the formation of local oxide layers, the discharge energy during 4 h of exposure to the plasma products remains unchanged.