Aluminium Ion Implantation in Stainless Steel

As established, the implantation of aluminium in a stream of nitrogen ions on the stainless-steel surface leads to a partial recrystallization ('ferritization', inoculation with defect formation) of the carrier matrix. The SEM shows the formation of aluminium coating with thickness up to 100 nm on the carrying surface as a result of implantation. The results of XPS surface study demonstrate that this surface layer contains of the x-ray amorphous aluminium nitride, oxide and oxynitride compounds. The oxidation of composite (implant) leads to the destruction of nitrogen-containing compounds, and alumina become the base surface-layer compound. Both the specific surface area and the mechanical strength of the surface layer increase significantly after implantation and oxidation of implant as well as growth of the implantation dose too. The changes of the surface structure and morphology as well as formation of chemical compounds on the carrying agent influence on the thermal-physical characteristics (namely, increase of surface temperature and air near-surface temperature is observed) in comparison with the untreated sample.