Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University in Russia announce that they have developed a new method of ion implantation that improves the wear resistance of stainless steel by more than a hundred times through highly intensive implantation of ions with low energy.
TPU scientists have already experimentally confirmed the possibility of creating a doped surface layer with a depth of several hundred micrometers, compared to a depth only several tens or hundreds of nanometers for conventional methods. In addition, this technology reportedly makes it possible to manufacture details and products with specific surface properties. For example, a barrier layer is formed by ion doping of zirconium with titanium, thus preventing oxygen penetration. This can be used to increase the service life and safety of nuclear fuel cells.
According to Alexander Ryabchikov, the head of the Laboratory for Highly Intensive Ion Implantation, “We proposed to increase the ion penetration depth into the material by enhancing the radiation-induced diffusion with high-density ion beams that are two to three orders of magnitude superior to those used in traditional ion implantation.”
