Pulsed ion beam treatment of metals for improved surface properties

This work builds on previously reported studies using an intense pulsed ion beam to achieve a rapid melt and resolidification of a surface metallic layer. Alloys and bi-metal combinations were treated on the RHEPP-1 facility at Sandia National Laboratories (0.5 MV, 0.5 μs at sample location, <10 J/cm²). The ions are produced by an epoxy-filled groove flashover source, yielding a mixed species beam of protons and carbon (ranges 1 μm and 5 μm respectively) from a magnetically insulated ion diode. Numerical modeling of thermal histories neglecting ablation have yielded predictions consistent with diagnostic measurements of treated samples. The measurements included scanning electron microscopy, Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry, X-Ray Diffraction, and electrochemical corrosion tests.