Plasma Intrusion Process to Produce Cermet Armor

Abstract

A plasma process producing cermets of differential hardness using nitrogen as the working gas and argon as the shielding gas at plasma temperatures is disclosed. Nitrogen atoms are ionized and react readily with molten titanium atoms of a substrate layer which then solidify during cooling to form TiN particles in the surface of a substrate thereby forming a composite. Because the nitrogen chemically bonds to the molten titanium the composite is not a laminate but an alloy of differential composition. By manipulating the process variables, the differential composition can be meticulously controlled. The thickness of the TiN cermet layer, and the hardness of the TiN cermet layer can be independently controlled in a reproducible manner thereby producing materials possessing specific desirable properties tailored to the ultimate intended use of the composites.

1 . The process of producing a composite material of differential composition comprising ionizing nitrogen gas and reacting the ionized nitrogen gas with molten titanium atoms on a surface of a titanium substrate layer which then solidify during cooling to form a cermet layer of TiN particles in the surface of the titanium substrate thereby forming a cermet composite layer. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the nitrogen gas is ionized by passing the substrate through a plasma torch using a nitrogen working gas and argon as a shielding gas. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  including the steps of manipulating the thickness of the TiN cermet layer, and the hardness of the TiN cermet layer thereby producing materials possessing specific desirable properties tailored to the ultimate intended use of the composites by controlling the duration with which the titanium substrate is subjected to the plasma torch in the nitrogen atmosphere. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  including the steps of manipulating the thickness of the TiN cermet layer, and the hardness of the TiN cermet layer thereby producing materials possessing specific desirable properties tailored to the ultimate intended use of the composites by controlling the number of times with which the titanium substrate is subjected to the plasma torch in the nitrogen atmosphere. 
     
     
         5 . A composite material of differential composition produced by the process of  claim 1 .