Influence of temperature on the cleaning and passivation effect of a flowing Ar-N-2 post-discharge on an iron foil

In this article, the interactions between an Ar-N-2 post-discharge and an i ron oxide surface have been studied in order to bed light on the physico-ch emical processes resulting in the cleaning of carbonaceous impurities prese nt on metallic surfaces. Gas-phase observations and modification of the top most surface of substrates are strongly correlated, as evidenced by means o f X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The influence of temperature on t he surface cleaning has been determined. At room temperature, the surface, which is a Fe2O3 passive layer covered by impurities, is not cleaned but co vered by a thin film which passivates the iron foil. Treatments at 323 K an d 373 K result in a cleaning of the surface. cleaning which is most probabl y complete.