Effect of simultaneous B+ and N+2 implantation on microhardness, fatigue life, and microstructure in Fe–13Cr–15Ni base alloys

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Abstract
Microhardness and cantilever beam fatigue measurements were conducted on Fe–13Cr–15Ni base austenitic alloys that were implanted with boron and nitrogen ions either singly or simultaneously. The microstructure of the modified surface layer and dislocation slip modes after fatigue tests were investigated by optical and transmission electron microscopy. Both hardness and fatigue life were improved by ion implantation, but the greatest improvement was achieved when boron and nitrogen were implanted simultaneously. The degree of fatigue life improvement also varied with minor changes in the base alloying compositions: nitrogen was detrimental or ineffective in the presence of titanium, and boron was much more effective in the presence of molybdenum. Comparison of slip band morphology between the compression and tension cycles indicated that implantation improved the reversibility of surface slip and delayed crack initiation.