The role of the addition of nitrogen to the discharge plasma of CO lasers on thermodynamic properties and composition of the laser active medium is discussed here. It is shown that nitrogen addition improves laser characteristics and changes the composition of the laser active medium. The addition of nitrogen significantly decreases CO dissociation level and concentrations of C atoms created in plasma-chemical reactions of laser discharge.

This study mixes four different powders to produce Ti-6Cu-8Nb-xCr3C2 (x = 1, 3, and 5 mass%) alloys in three different proportions. The experimental results reveal that when 5 mass% Cr3C2 was added to the Ti-6Cu-8Nb alloys, the specimen possessed optimal mechanical properties after sintering at 1275°C for 1 h. The relative density reached 98.23%, hardness was enhanced to 67.8 HRA, and the transverse rupture strength (TRS) increased to 1821.2 MPa, respectively. The EBSD results show that the added Cr3C2 in situ decomposed into TiC and NbC during the sintering process, and the generated intermetallic compounds (Ti2Cu) were evenly dispersed in the Ti matrix. Furthermore, the reduced Cr atom acts as a β-phase stabilizing element and solid-solution in the Ti matrix. Consequently, the main strengthening mechanisms of the Ti-6Cu-8Nb-xCr3C2 alloys include dispersion strengthening, solid-solution strengthening, and precipitation hardening.