Surface evaluation of carbon steel doped with nitrogen ions

Abstract

This study proposes by means of analytical characterization techniques, a structural evaluation of the surface modification of a ferrous material by three-dimensional ion implantation plasma technology. Carbon steel substrates immerse in a gaseous at Mo sphere, were surface implanted with nitrogen ions via high voltage pulse discharges activated at a low-pressure range (“high vacuum”). The effect of the surface treatment on the structure, composition and morphology of the substrates was verified by microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. From the micrographs obtained by scanning electronic microscopy and the analysis elemental by energy dispersive spectroscopy the morphology and nitrogen concentration of the treated and non-treated samples were analyzed and compared. As for the elemental analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy, nitrogen concentration in the implanted substrates were detected and determined at a relatively low amount. In regard to the X-ray diffraction results, a decrease in the intensity of the (110), (200) and (211) planes of the treated substrate compared with the reference substrate, was observed. The analysis of phases-formation on the surface material performed by Raman spectroscopy, identified mainly ferric oxy-hydroxides typical uniform corrosion products.

Keywords

• ferrous alloys
• superficial treatment
• ion implantation
• physicochemical characterization