On the Application of Plasma Pulses generated by Electromagnetic and Electrothermal Launchers for Surface Treatment

At the Lehrstuhl für Raumfahrttechnik (LRT) of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) various types of electrothermal and electromagnetic launchers have been developed to simulate micrometeoroid and space debris impacts. The flow of hot and dense high-velocity plasma generated in these launchers has been used to accelerate small glass beads. The targets have been shielded from the plasma in prior work. This paper presents the application of these plasma pulse accelerators to investigate the direct influence of the fast, high density plasma on material surfaces. The plasma has been supplemented with different materials to achieve coatings with specific properties. Relations involving changes in material properties have been investigated. Electromagnetic and electrothermal launchers can be used to generate short high-energy plasma pulses. The interaction of such plasma pulses with metallic surfaces generates very hard surface layers, which are very resistant to friction corrosion.