ULTRA-THIN LAYER ACTIVATION BY RECOIL IMPLANTATION OF RADIOACTIVE HEAVY-IONS - APPLICABILITY IN WEAR AND CORROSION STUDIES

A new calibration procedure is proposed for the application of recoil implantation of radioactive heavy ions (enegies between a few hundred keV and a few MeV) into the near surface of materials as part of a res earch programme on submicrometric wear or corrosion phenomena. The dep th profile of implanted radioelements is performed by using ultra thin deposited films obtained by cathode sputtering under argon plasma. Tw o curves for Co-56 ion in nickel have been determined for implantation depths of 110 and 200 nm, respectively, and stress the feasibility an d reproductibility of this method for such activated depths. The achie ved surface loss detection sensitivities are about 1 and 2 nm respecti vely. The on line detection mode is performed directly on the sample o f interest. A general description of the method is presented. A study of the reaction kinematics followed by a general treatment on the irra diation parameters to be adopted are also developed with the intention of using the ultra thin layer activation method (UTLA) to further app lications in research and industry.