Multi-cycle of AISI 5135 steel modification by irradiation of the “film (Si (0.2 μm) + Nb (0.2 μm))/(AISI 5135 steel) substrate” system with an intense pulsed electron beam

Abstract

Steel AISI 5135 surface layer modification carried out by high-cycle high-speed melting of the “film (Si + Nb)/(steel AISI 5135) substrate” system with an intense pulsed electron beam with an impact area of several square centimeters, have been implemented in a single vacuum cycle on the “COMPLEX” setup. The regime of the system “film (Si (0.2 μm) + Nb (0.2 μm))/(steel AISI 5135) substrate” irradiation with an intense pulsed electron beam (20 J/cm2, 200 μs, 3 pulses, 3 cycles) which makes it possible to form a surface layer with high thermal stability have been revealed. This layer is characterized by high hardness, more than 3 times higher than the hardness of AISI 5135 steel in the original (ferrite-pearlite structure) and wear resistance, more than 90 times higher than the wear resistance of the initial AISI 5135 steel. It is shown that the high strength and tribological properties of steel are due to the formation of the hardening phase particles (niobium silicide of Nb5Si3 composition).