Modification of materials surface using plasma enhanced ion beams

The paper presents experimental results on the application of microsecond p lasma opening switch (MPOS) technology for materials surface modification. The ion beam parameters generated by the MPOS are up to 250 keV energy and current density and energy densities of up to 150 A/cm(2) and 2.2 J/cm(2), respectively. Characterization of the treated samples showed structural cha nges to a depth of several microns. The small ion range (few microns) and f ast cooling of the upper melted layer (up to 10(10) K/s) result in formatio n of fine-grain structures characterized by improved corrosion and erosion properties. Measurments indicate an increase in microhardness of a factor o f about 3 for carbon steel samples. Corrosion resistance increase for the t reated samples of at least 3, as measured by mass loss and potentiodynamic methods, has been measured for Al alloys. Microstructural changes in the su rface morphology indicate a reduction in grain size for the treated samples and the appearance of shallow craters. Results of numeric simulations are given for the temperature distribution in materials due to ion beam heating .