Аңдатпа
The formation of microstructure and substructures in the rims of railroad wheel pairs by plasma treatment is investigated. The hardening of the surface layer in plasma quenching is largely due to the formation of nonequilibrium metastable structure that is practically amorphous in the surface zone. This structure is transformed to a narrow zone of complete and incomplete quenching, with a nonuniform martensite + troostite structure.