Method and device for controlling the electrical current density over a workpiece during heat treatment by plasma

摘要

Regulating electric current density over a workpiece in a plasma heat treatment, using an auxiliary electrode (9) of known surface area involves: (i) generating a neutral plasma in furnace (1); (ii) measuring the total furnace current Ig, and auxiliary electrode current Ihe; and (iii) using the values obtd. with the known auxiliary electrode surface area Fhe to compute the unknown charge surface area Fch. The auxiliary electrode (9) is then switched out, the neutral gas plasma replaced by a material-transferring plasma, and total furnace current Ig is set in accordance with the required current density. Also claimed is appts. for performing the above process.