Tribological parameters of samples of bronze substrates coated with MoS2 were investigated. The friction tests were carried out at load 7N, temperature of 250°C in vacuum according to ASTM G133. Magnetron sputtering was used to deposit MoS2 coatings. A 100Cr6 steel ball was used as a counter-sample. Based on the results of the experiments, the values of the friction coefficient of the coatings and their comparative service lifetime were obtained. The results can be used in the manufacturing of devices operating in similar conditions.

In the Institute for Laser and Plasma Technologies of NRNU MEPhI a compact spherical tokamak MEPhIST (MEPhI-Spherical Tokamak) for educational, demonstration and research purposes is under development and construction. The creation of plasma diagnostics systems involves several stages, determined by the successive complication of the plasma researchtasks, the upgrading of the device and the development of educational and methodological material for laboratory work to be put at the tokamak. Working out in situ methods of plasma-surface interaction analysis is one of the main scientific and technological goals of this tokamak. The complex of diagnostics described in the paper provides complementary information about the processes occurring at plasma with surface contact, is a set of very informative and well-tested diagnostic tools that allow students to obtain visual and reliable information about the processes occurring in the discharge chamber of the tokamak.

Optical radiation from plasma of abnormal glow discharge in Ar+N2, He+ N2 and N2+H2 was investigated. Lines of N2 N2+, N, N+, Ar+, Ar, He, Fe, H, H2 and OH were detected by optical spectrometry. Discharge current and intensities of spectral lines of N2, N2+, N, and N+ versus the concentration of Ar, He, and H2 in the gas mixtures were measured at various compositions of the working gas.

In present contribution we report the first direct measurements of ion fluxes in a nonsputtering magnetron discharge (NSMD) with Al cathode in Ar/O-2 mixtures. The diagnostic unit comprising three-electrode electrostatic lens ion extractor, magnetic sector mass-analyzer, and a vacuum electron multiplier was calibrated and then used to record the time-resolved ion counts of Al+ and Ar+ both in NSMD and arc regimes. The results clearly indicate that in NSMD the dominant species are Ar ions while Al ion signal is lower than the sensitivity limit due to noise level, in contrast to the arc discharge. The capabilities of the diagnostics setup and its sensitivity limits are discussed.

The paper reports results of studying the geometry of craters formed by the action of laser pulses on solid-state targets of aluminum and lithium films at a power density on the target of (1–5) × 1010 W/cm2 and variation of the number of pulses in the range of 1–150, as well as the results of ex situ layer-by-layer analysis of lithium films on quartz coatings carried out using the method laser induced breakdown spectroscopy to determine the thickness of the films.

A pulsed non-sputtering magnetron discharge (NSMD) has been studied by Langmuir probe diagnostics and a retarding field energy analyzer (RFA) mounted inside the cathode. Both axial and radial profiles of plasma density and electron temperature are nearly uniform in the magnetic null region. The plasma potential measurements have yielded a positive anode sheath voltage drop U as ~ 0.4U d and a corresponding cathode sheath drop U cs ~ 0.6U d . RFA results demonstrate that the energy of ions incident at the cathode surface during NSMD does not exceed eU cs . This result is in accordance with the observed inhibition of sputtering process in the NSMD.

Abnormal glow discharge in the pulse-periodic mode in Ar, H-2, N-2, Ar+N-2, and N-2+H-2 was investigated. Current-voltage characteristics, Langmuire probe and optical spectroscopy data were analysed. The electron temperature of 2-5 eV and concentration of 1-3x10(10) cm(-3) have been measured. Lines of N-2 N-2(+), N, N+, NHx, Ar+, Ar, Ti, Fe, H, and OH have been detected by optical spectrometry. Dependences of intensities of spectral lines of N-2, N-2(+), N, and N+ on Ar and H-2 content in gas mixtures were measured.

Parameters of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) discharges in a mixture of gases N2, H2, and Ar at a total pressure of 1.5 × 10–3 mbar and a partial pressure ratio N2: H2: Ar = 2: 12: 1 are discussed. The plasma properties are analyzed using Langmuir probes and optical emission spectroscopy. The ICP discharge is used for the nitriding of specimens made of Russian grade 30ChGSA structural steel. The nitriding experiments are performed at different bias voltages V b in the range of–200 V to +100 V with respect to the walls of the discharge chamber. The surface hardness of the treated specimens depends substantially on the bias voltage, being much higher than the initial value in all cases. The obtained results demonstrate the possibility of increasing the surface hardness up to 1000 HV (4–5 times the initial values) at the bias voltage equal to the floating potential.

Проведены эксперименты по нанесению медных и титановых покрытий на алюминиевые фольги и полированные алюминиевые пластины для их защиты от коррозии в щелочных средах. Покрытия осаждались в магнетронных распылительных системах трех типов: в стационарном магнетронном разряде, в сильноточном импульсном магнетронном разряде и в стационарном магнетронном разряде с расплавленным катодом. Стойкими к воздействию раствора NaOH (30 вес. %) оказались только алюминиевые фольги с медными покрытиями, полученными при использовании комбинированной ионно-плазменной технологии. Она включает в себя предварительную очистку поверхности алюминия ионным пучком, нанесение плотного промежуточного слоя в стационарном магнетронном разряде с ионным ассистированием начального этапа осаждения и нанесение дополнительного слоя в магнетронном разряде с расплавленным катодом.

Depositions of copper and titanium coatings on aluminum foils and polished aluminum plates for thier protection against corrosion in alkaline media were performed. The coatings were deposited in three different types of magnetron sputtering systems: a direct current (DC) magnetron discharge, a high current impulse magnetron discharge, and a DC magnetron discharge with melted cathode. Only aluminum foils coated with copper films obtained by combined ion-plasma technology, which included preliminarily sputtering of the aluminum surface with an ion beam, deposition of a dense interlayer in the DC magnetron discharge with ion assistance of initial stage of deposition, and deposition of additional layer in the magnetron discharge with melted cathode, were resistant against 30 wt % NaOH solution.