Cathode Spot Movement of Low Pressure Arc Removing Oxide Layer

Abstract

Remarkable characteristic of cathode spot of low pressure arc can remove the oxide layer preferentially. Recently, cathode spot of low pressure arc have been used for cleaning metal oxide surface before the thermal spray or surface modification. However, there are few reports on the cathode spot movement or the oxide removal process. The experiment carried out by using the SS400 cathode work piece and the used cylindrical copper anode. The cathode spot movement taken by the high speed video camera is observed and analyzed by using the plasma image processing (PIP). The surfaces of work piece were covered with thick oxide of 9.67nm. The surface work piece of surface after processing was analyzed by using the laser microscope. The cathode spots movement has the difference as the processing time increases and the oxide layer roughness changes