Erosion of materials under the effect of compression plasma flows

Erosion of the surface of St3-type steel and BrB2-type bronze samples as well as bronze and copper samples with zirconium coating under the effect of compression plasma flows is studied. The results show the increase in mass removed from the surface of samples with the growth of energy absorbed by the surface layer and with the growth of the number of pulses. Probable mechanisms of erosion have been discussed. Erosion leads to the decrease in the coating element concentration in the alloyed layer in the case of the coating/substrate system treatment. This effect depends on thermal characteristics of the treated material.