Effect of Fe and Zr ion implantation and high-current electron irradiationtreatment on chemical and mechanical properties of Ti-V-Al Alloy

Using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, nuclear elastic resonance ana lysis, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and wear resistance and microhardness tests, the alloy Ti-41-V-41-Al-18 was investig ated after Fe ion (60 kV) and Zr (40 kV) ion implantation and subsequent hi gh-current electron beam (HCEB) irradiation at an energy flow density of 6 J/cm(2), called duplex treatment. Profiles show that the maximum concentrat ion of Fe ions was 16.5 at. % at 85 nm from sample surface and that of Zr i ons was 0.85 at. % at 56 nm. The maximum of the Fe concentration profile wa s found to shift to the large sample depth toward after increasing the impl antation dose. The surface alloy layer is composed of a number of structure s: grains of dislocation substructure (2 x 10(10) cm(-2)), grains with plat es, and grains with packed martensite. The disorientation of regions is obs erved. After HCEB treatment, the disorientation of microregions increases ( Delta alpha=7.5 degrees) and particles of Ti2Fe are formed. After double im plantation, the dry friction wear and the friction coefficient decreased. A fter the duplex treatment, the thickness of the hardened layer and the wear resistance increased. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979( 00)00503-X].