Comparison between diffusion of 15N and 14N in implanted iron

Guy Terwagne, Michel Piette, Franz Bodart

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    It is well known that nitrogen implantations at doses greater than 1017 ions cm−2 modify the tribological properties of metals. In particular the wear resistance for several types of steel is enhanced. Tribological tests and industrial applications are made with samples implanted with natural nitrogen which contains more than 99% of 14N.

    On the other hand, physical properties, such as nitrogen diffusion in steels are measured using the 15N(p, αγ)12C reaction at EP = 429 keV. However, it is also possible to measure depth profiling of 14 N with a narrow resonance at Eα = 1531 keV in the 14N(α, γ)18F reaction. Both reactions were used in the present work.

    Pure iron foils were implanted with enriched 15N (70%14N–30%15N at different doses. Depth profiles of 14N and 15N were measured on the same sample before and after thermal annealing. The depth distribution was not affected by the isotopic composition of the implanted ions. There is no isotopic effect in the nitrogen diffusion during the implantation or after thermal annealing.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)145-149
    JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
    Volume19/20
    Issue numberPart 1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1987

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