Prospects for the application of surface treatment of alloys by electron beams in state-of-the-art technologies

Abstract

Recent papers on the application of intense pulsed electron beams for surface treat-ment of metals, alloys, metalloceramic and ceramic materials are reviewed. The advantages of pulsed electron beam application as compared with laser beams, plas-ma flows, ion beams are mentioned. Promising trends of the electron-beam process-ing application are analysed: (1) the surface smoothing, the elimination of surface microcracks with simultaneous change in structural-phase state of the surface layer for creating the high production technologies of finishing treatment of critical metal products of intricate shape from Ti-6Al-4V alloy and titanium, steels of dif-ferent classes, WC-10 wt.% Co hard alloy, aluminium; (2) the removal of micro-burrs being formed in manufacturing of precision moulds (SKD11 steel) and bio-medical materials (Ti-6Al-4V alloy); (3) the finishing surface treatment of moulds and dies; (4) the improvement of functional properties of metallic biomaterials: Stainless steel, titanium and its alloys, the titanium-nickelide-based alloys possess-ing the shape memory effect, magnesium alloys; (5) the treatment of medical mate-rials and implants; (6) the formation of surface alloys for powerful electrodynamic systems; (7) the improvement of characteristics of aircraft engine and compressor blades; (8) the formation of thermobarrier coatings being applied to combustion-chamber surface; (9) the increase in fatigue service life of steels and alloys; (10) the hardening of rails’ tread surface. As shown, at a correct selection of process parame-ters, such as (i) accelerating voltage, (ii) energy density of electron beam, (iii) pulse number, and (iv) pulse length, it is possible to control thoroughly and/or to ma-nipulate the characteristics of structural-phase state and properties of surface. As noted, the important factor for improvement of the material properties and service duration of devices manufactured from it, there is the modification of structure in order to form a submicro-and nanosize grain (or subgrain) structure.