Abstract: A method for treatment of products in gas-discharge plasma consists in that a two-step vacuum-arc discharge is initiated between an anode (3) and an integrally cold cathode (2), featuring a metal-gaseous step of plasma and a gaseous step of plasma. The gaseous step of plasma is established by ionizing the working gas with electrons separated from the metal-gaseous step of plasma. Then a product (5) under treatment is preheated to working temperature and held in a preset temperature range. To this end, provision is made in the device for a means (13) for electron separation from the metal-gaseous step of plasma, which means is situated in the zone of the integrally cold cathode (2) and is impermeable to the metal ions generated by the cathode (2). In a particular case the means (13) is made as a set of V-shaped plates (14).

Abstract: An electric arc metal evaporator has a cathode (2) extending along its longitudinal axis which is made of an evaporating material and has an evaporation surface extending along its longitudinal axis, and power supply leads (7,8) connected to opposite ends (5,6) of cathode (2) and connected to control switches (10) and (11) which are connected through individual activating members (12,13) to a control unit (14) and a direct current power supply (15) which is also is connected to an anode, and a unit for determining the current position of the cathode spot (16) on the evaporation surface (3) of cathode (2) which is connected to a control unit (14.) The cathode (2) itself can be used as a current position detector (17) and its power supply leads (7,8) serve as the detector (17) power supply leads.

Abstract: A consumable cathode used in electric-arc metal vaporizers to produce multi-component coatings on articles. The cathode has a unitary design, consisting of a plurality of layers of different metals, the number of the layers being determined by the number of coating components. The layers are arranged so that the value of the cathode potential drop of the metals decreases from the geometric axis of the consumable cathode to the periphery thereof in order to ensure a uniform vaporization of the cathode layers. The cathode spot is retained on the working end of the consumable cathode with the help of a solenoid-generated magnetic field.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a consumable cathode (1) having a working end face (3), a solenoid (4) coaxially disposed relative to the consumable cathode (1) and having a tubular anode (5) received therein, an igniting electrode (6). Solenoid (4) encircles the tubular anode (5) and the consumable cathode (1), the number of turns per unit length of the solenoid (4) around the consumable cathode (1) being greater than the number of turns per unit length in the remaining portion of the solenoid (4).Moreover, the solenoid (4) extends beyond the igniting electrode (6) at the side opposite to the working end face (3) by a length exceeding half the length of the portion of the solenoid (4) disposed around the consumable cathode (1).

Abstract: A plasma arc apparatus comprises a working anode chamber in the form of a pipe of a non-magnetic metal, a consumable cathode provided with an opening for a work to be installed therein, the cathode having a cross-sectional configuration which coincides with that of this pipe, a starting electrode connected with the cathode and current sources for starting and feeding an arc between the anode and cathode. The cathode is disposed within the anode in axial relation therewith so that the lateral surface of the cathode faces the anode and functions as an evaporation surface whose width is less than the length of the anode. On the outer side of the anode there is mounted a magnetic system for deviating ions of the plasma produced by the arc in the direction of the work.