Development and investigation of powerful glow discharge electron gun for applying in the technology of obtaining of refractory and chemically active metals

Today, the necessity of development highly productive and metal-saving equipment for electron-beam melting of refractory and chemically active metals is stimulated by the needs of nuclear, aviation, space technology, chemical technology and the electronics industry in highly pure metals and alloys that retain high strength at high temperatures, chemical resistance and required electrical parameters. Electron beam vacuum melting is the most efficient way to obtain such materials. However, the use of traditional equipment with hot cathode guns, due to its complexity, does not provide the necessary stability and reliability of melting modes. The use of a gas-discharge electron gun greatly simplifies and reduces the cost of electron-beam equipment, increases the stability of its operation and, accordingly, reduces the cost of producing the materials obtained with their high quality. As a result of provided theoretical and experimental studies, a fundamentally new gas-discharge electron gun with a power of 100 kW for electron-beam melting of refractory and chemically active materials has been developed. The design of the gun and complete technical documentation for it have been developed. In the process of performing the work, an experimental model of the gun was developed and manufactured, as well as a model of the gas pressure control system in the discharge gap of the gun. The created mock-ups ensured experimental research and optimization of the parameters of the gas-discharge gun and the control system for the operating modes of the gun.