Abstract
In the modern world, one of the most important requirements for the production of structural steel parts in machine building is improved hardness and wear resistance. Electrolyte-plasma chemical-thermal treatment is one of the best solutions for this problem, as the surface of steel is modified while the core of the part remains in a ductile state for resistance to impact loading, and this method is resource-saving due to the saving of energy and material consumption. In the present work the questions of technological possibilities of the method of electrolyte-plasma chemical heat treatment of steels are considered. The research results of other authors have been studied, and the analysis of the influence of technological parameters on the change of structural-phase state and improvement of microhardness at electrolyteplasma chemical heat treatment has been given. Electrolyte-plasma carburizing of 20X steel was carried out at the electrolyte-plasma chemical heat treatment unit. A solution of 10% soda ash (Na2CO3), 20% urea (CH4N2O) in 70% distilled water was used as an electrolyte. It was found that the cross section of steel after electrolyte-plasma carburizing has a zonal structure, so the modified layer with a thickness of ⁓50 μm consists of α-Fe, α'-Fe, Fe3C. After electrolyte plasma treatment of 20X steel, the microhardness increased ⁓3.5 times compared to the initial state.