1997 Volume 37 Issue 6 Pages 623-629
Surface temperatures of metals subjected to transferred arc plasma impingement in 100 % argon and Ar-H2 (90 : 10 and 70 : 30 by volume) mixed gas arc plasmas are predicted based on a combined mathematical model of the arc plasma and the metal bead. The numerical simulation involves solution to conservation equations of mass, momentum, energy, and current continuity of the arc plasma and the target metals of Nb and Ta. An increase in hydrogen content of the introduced gas resulted to higher surface temperatures as well as an increase in the size of the molten pool. Predicted threshold arc current that causes an onset of melting is in good agreement with experiment.
