Abstract
Based on the results of this study, a contract was concluded to test and determine the prospects of application of needle applicators for liquid fertiliser application in field conditions. The paper presents the results of investigation of the influence of surface hardening by plasma electrolyte on tribological and mechanical properties of hollow needle applicators for liquid fertiliser application made of 12Kh18N10T steel. The hollow needle applicators for liquid fertiliser handling and testing were made of cylindrical 12Kh18N10T steel with a diameter of 20 mm. Experiments were conducted on the applicators to investigate the effect of sample rotation speed on the uniformity of surface hardening. For a number of parameters relevant to the electrolyte-plasma surface hardening (EPSH) performance, the optimum areas of improvement of structural, phase and mechanical properties under different thermocycling regimes were determined. Heating and resulted in residual austenite stability; the maximum microhardness after EPSH was two times higher than the initial value; the maximum surface microhardness after EPSH reached 887.13 HV; In friction tests, the coefficient of friction after EPSH doubled. This result is also favourable to wear reduction.