Processing Steels for Tribological Applications by Titanium Implantation

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Abstract
Titanium implantation has been shown to produce superior tribological surfaces on hardened steels. Low-friction (μ = 0.3), wear-resistant surfaces have been formed on polished and abraded (600 and 120 grit Sic) AISI-52100 steel by appropriate implantation conditions. On flat surfaces implanted at normal incidence, the required fluence of Ti ions increases from 2 to 5 × 1017 Ti/cm2 as the energy increases from 50 to 200 KeV/ion. On curved surfaces (e.g., bearings, cutting tools, etc.) higher fluences are necessary due to effects of implantation at angles off normal incidence (i.e. the combined effects of higher sputtering rates, decreased range, and changes in the carburization process associated with duty cycles). Optimal benefits of Ti implantation are associated with the formation of a modestly thick (>20nm) fully carburized layer.