Surface modifications induced by yttrium implantation on low manganese-carbon steel

Low manganese-carbon steel samples were ion implanted with yttrium. Sample compositions and structures were investigated before and after yttrium impl antations to determine the yttrium distribution in the sample. Yttrium impl antation effects were characterized using several analytical and structural techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflection high energ y electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, glancing angle X-ray diffraction and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. In this paper it is shown that correlation between composition and structural analyses provides an unders tanding of the main compounds induced by yttrium implantation in low mangan ese-carbon steel. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.