Phase changes in steels irradiated with intense pulsed plasma beams

It is known that transformation of martensite into austenite (alpha'--> gamma) can take place in the surface layers of steels treated with sufficiently intense pulses of laser, ion or plasma beams. Our present work focuses on the phase transformations in the near-surface layer of various types of steel irradiated with short(µs range) intense (5-6 xE-4 J/m2) argon and nitrogen plasma pulses. The results of CEMS measurements, the pin-on-disc wear tests and SEM observations are presented.