Improved Efficiency of the Process of Low-Temperature Plasma Hardening Based on its Monitoring

Investigations on the feasibility and development of the monitoring process for the lowtemperature plasma hardening of metal items are carried out. It is shown that it is reasonable to carry out monitoring according to the parameters of the signals registered in the plasma-item-stand-earth electric circuit and analyze it with the help of the value (Hurst exponent) numerically reflecting the main formation regularities and change of the signal structure in the hardening process. Requirements on the monitoring system providing the valid information support of low-temperature plasma hardening are formed. It is deduced from the experiments that the maximum hardened surface layer is formed if the hardening process is accompanied by signal generation with the minimal Hurst exponent values. © 2017, Allerton Press, Inc.