Analysis of affected surface zone created by different cutting technologies

Abstract

Three cutting technologies, plasma, laser, and acetylene, were used to produce the same geometry of a hole with 33 cm diameter. The plates of the same steel St-37 (1.0038, ČSN 11375) with a thickness of 50 mm were used in all three cases and the aim of the work was to evaluate and compare microstructure changes of the cut surfaces. Longitudinal and transverse samples were taken from all cuts for subsequent analysis. Light and scanning electron microscopy of surface and below-surface areas were carried out at all samples. Hardness profiles were determined by micro-hardness and nano-hardness measurements. Based on these results, the depth of material that was influenced by cutting was established by image analysis of light micrographs, micro-hardness measurement and nano-hardness measurement. It was found out, that all three technologies influence significantly microstructure and surface hardness of cut steel. Acetylene cutting resulted in the deepest affected zone consisting of several layers with gradually changing microstructures based on various ferritic-carbidic morphologies.