Surface-modification effects induced by yttrium implantation on pure iron and various steels

Pure iron and various steel samples were yttrium implanted using the ion-im plantation technique. Sample compositions and structures were investigated before and after yttrium implantation to determine the yttrium distribution s and the main compounds formed after the ion implantation. Yttrium-implant ation effects were characterized using analytical and structural techniques such as Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), reflection high ener gy electron diffraction (RHEED), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD). This paper shows that correlation between compo sition and structural analyses allows understanding and comparison of the s urface-modification effects of implanting yttrium into pure iron and variou s steels before high-temperature oxidation study. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.