Effect of Xe+ ion bombardment induced patterns in stainless steel on plasma nitriding processes

Abstract

The texturing of surfaces is an important method applied in various technological areas of research. Much of the current interest on surface modifications stems from the possibility of obtaining special optical, magnetic, tribological, and mechanical properties in a variety of materials. The texturization of steel surface by ionic bombardment (atomic attrition) is an interesting route to modify plasma nitriding process. The observed changes in plasma nitriding are attributed to several causes such as increasing surface nitrogen retention, stress, and creation of lattice defects, altogether improving nitrogen diffusion.1 In this paper we report the effect of Xe+ ion bombardment on the surface of the steel (SS 316L and AISI 4140). The bombardment effect on plasma pulsed nitriding process is also reported.