PIII-nitriding of boron implantated stainless steel

In this report we present results of nitrogen PIII into 50 keV boron implan ted austenitic stainless steel at 400 degreesC and 40 kV. A surface layer o f 90 nm consisting of expanded austenite (gamma (N1)- lattice expansion 6.5 %) and ferrite as well as containing 30 at.% B was found. This layer was fo llowed by another one containing expanded austenite with reduced expansion (gamma (N2) - lattice expansion 2.5%) before the base material was reached. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) at various a ngles of incidence were used to obtain these results. After annealing at 40 0 degreesC for 5 h further nitrogen diffusion, but no boron diffusion was o bserved. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.