Development of a new hybrid plasma torch for materials processing

The main objectives of this study were to construct a plasma generator device and to investigate its applications in welding, cutting, and surface hardening. The device was derived from the union of two plasma-generating technologies, non-transferred-arc plasma and magnetoplasmadynamic thruster (MPDT), and characterised by the simultaneous formation of two plasma arcs in one device, generating a plasma jet with high energy density. Initially, trials were conducted to analyse the influence of the physical variables (gas flow rate and electric current intensities – primary and secondary) on the plasma jet, for which the thruster and the length of the plasma jet expulsed from the chamber were determined. The relevant parameters for welding, cutting and surface hardening were determined by trial and error, in which the trials were conducted using various plate thicknesses and materials. The results have shown that this device can be used for welding, cutting and surface hardening.