Mechnism for ablation of metals by explosion plasmas

Abstract

The authors present results from a study of the gasdynamic and thermal phenomena that occur when an explosion plasma comes into contact with metals. Metals include commercial-grade iron, copper and aluminum as well as iron alloys including the simple carbon steels, alloy' steels and cast irons. Aluminum alloys are represented here by silumins with 6-38% Si, Amg6 an alloy with magnesium, and auraluminum D16. From the experiments conducted it is concluded that: under the pressure of an explosion the surface layer of a metal is heated by the plasma to critical temperature, but vaporization of the metal is low owing to screening of the surface by vapor; and that most of the removal of metal occurs at the end of the interaction owing to vaporization and sputtering of the alloy when the pressure drops.