Heat treatment method and apparatus using thermal plasma, and heat treated substance produced thereby

A thermal plasma heat treatment apparatus for heat treating a workpiece by means of a thermal plasma, comprising:

• a thermal plasma torch for producing a thermal plasma at the downstream side of said thermal plasma torch;
• a plasma flame furnace for controlling the heat of said thermal plasma thus produced by said plasma torch, said plasma flame furnace being disposed downstream from said thermal plasma torch;
• a reactor column in which said workpiece is subjected to a thermochemical reaction, said reactor column being disposed downstream from said plasma flame furnace;
• and
• a supply means for supplying said workpiece into said reactor column, said supply means being disposed downstream from said plasma flame furnace;
• wherein said plasma flame furnace comprises:
• a portion through which a plasma flame produced by said plasma torch passes, defined as a plasma passage;
• and
• a diffuser means for diffusing a stream of said plasma flame;
• wherein said plasma passage and said diffuser means comprise:
• an inlet tube into which said plasma flame flows;
• an outlet tube from which said plasma flame flows;
• and
• a diffusion chamber disposed between said inlet tube and said outlet tube, said diffusion chamber being enlarged in a diameter with respect to said outlet tube;
• said diffusion chamber further comprising a barrier member, which changes the flow direction of said plasma flame,
• wherein said barrier member is disposed in said diffusion chamber of said plasma passage.