Interaction of metals and alloys with gas media under spark discharges

The paper studies the penetration of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, argon and krypton into copper, nickel, molybdenum, tita-nium, aluminum, iron and different steels under the action of spark discharges in various media based on radioactive indicatorsusing step-by-step radiometric analysis, macro-, micro-, electron-microscopy and activation autoradiography, M`ssbauer andAuger spectroscopy, secondary ion-ionic emission, X-ray diffraction and X-ray microanalysis.The study describes distribution features of penetrating atoms and their concentration profiles. Phase composition of near-surfacelayers is also determined. It is shown that supersaturated solid solutions of iron in copper and copper in iron are formed duringsimultaneous iron and oxygen penetration in copper and spinel (Fe6Cu3O4)4. Diffusion of iron and carbon results in supersaturatedsolid solutions of iron and carbon in copper, copper and carbon in iron, graphite and cementite. Inert gases and nitrogen form solidsolutions with copper