Micromechanical measurements of ion-beam treated steel

The paper presents recent methods of surface modification based on the use of ion-beam techniques: ion implantation and ion-beam mixing (IBM). The met hodology of sample preparation, the advantages and drawbacks of the technol ogy as well as the results of micromechanical tests (friction and wear meas urements) performed on the ion-beam treated samples are presented. The resu lts obtained on both, untreated and ion-beam mixed high-speed steel samples clearly show that in the first stage of the wear process the worn zone exp ands well above the sample surface. This growth is less pronounced in ion-b eam mixed samples. Nuclear microprobe measurements revealed the redistribut ion of alloying elements in wear tracks. The friction coefficient and wear extent in ion-beam treated samples are reduced when compared with the untre ated ones. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.