The influence of plasma gas on changes in chemical composition and structures during the cutting process

Cutting is usually one of initial and basic operations of the manufacturing process of welded structures and realization constructions elements. Thermal cutting, in particular plasma arc cutting is often used to prepare elements. The plasma arc cutting process involves melting and ejecting the liquid metal from the cutting gap with a highly concentrated plasma electric arc which is generated between the non-consuable electrode and the workpiece. The paper presents the results of research on the influence of plasma gas on structural changes and chemical compositions changes resulting unalloyed steel cutting by air plasma arc. It was shown that in the air plasma arc cutting process the amorphous layer with a very high nitrogen content (about 1.6%) and a hardness of 750 HV 0.2 was used. This high nitriding effect is due to the diffusion of nitrogen from the plasma gas. As a result of the interaction of air plasma arc gases on the liquid metal, the cutting surface is carburized (about 0.5%). The alloy components are also burnt according to the theory of selective oxidation of chemical elements. The material structure after the air plasma cutting process shows the structures between the structure formed after oxygen cutting processs and nitrogen plasma cutting process. The process of argon-hydrogen plasma cutting has the least influence on the cut material.