Spatial distribution of metallic vapor in Ar thermal plasma on melting of Fe and Fe-Mn alloy

Metallic vapor pressure distribution in Ar thermal plasma on melting of metal was determined by using the values of total absorption ratio of spectra (beta) which were calculated from Ar density and Ar spectral intensity. There is good agreement between the vaporization rate obtained from the distribution of metallic vapor pressure by using Hertz-Knudsen equation and that of measured. The metallic vapor pressure decreased from molten surface to bulk of Ar plasma. Due to the enhanced vaporization mechanism, the maximum metallic vapor pressure was not at the anode spot, but at outer region of anode spot which has the highest temperature at the molten surface.