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Selective Modification of the Tribological Properties of Aluminum Through Temperature and Dose Control in Oxygen Plasma Source Ion Implantation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

M. Bolduc ,
B. Terreault ,
A. Reguer ,
E. Shaffer  and
R.G. St-Jacques
M. Bolduc
Affiliation:
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique–Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (INRS–EMT), Université du Québec, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
B. Terreault
Affiliation:
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique–Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (INRS–EMT), Université du Québec, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
A. Reguer
Affiliation:
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique–Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (INRS–EMT), Université du Québec, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
E. Shaffer
Affiliation:
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique–Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (INRS–EMT), Université du Québec, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
R.G. St-Jacques
Affiliation:
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique–Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications (INRS–EMT), Université du Québec, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada
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Abstract

Improvements in the tribological properties of pure aluminum and “aeronautical” alloy AA7075-T651 were obtained by oxygen-ion implantation [(0.7 to 5) × 1017 O/cm2, 30 keV] using our pulsed electron cyclotron resonance plasma source. This oxygen plasma source ion implantation process produced oxide nanoprecipitates that enhanced the hardness up to three times in the surface layer and caused reductions in the scratch depths and the friction coefficients by similar factors. A spectrum of tribological properties was obtained depending on temperature and ion dose. Temperature measurement and control were obtained through an integrated thermocouple and by changing the duty-cycle of the microwave source. The oxygen content and the depth-resolved chemical composition were measured and optimized using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) combined with Ar-ion etching. The tribological properties were investigated by (i) depth-sensing nanoindentation for hardness and Young's modulus, (ii) scratching and scratch-depth measurement via atomic force microscopy (AFM), and (iii) friction force measurements using AFM. Low-temperature (≤160°C) implantations with optimal O-ion doses produced, in both pure and alloyed Al, an approximately 50-nm-thick, smooth, and extremely fine-grained metal–alumina nanocomposite. The resulting surface was hard and stiff but nonbrittle and displayed high scratch resistance and low friction. High-temperature (~430°C) implantation had different effects on pure Al and AA7075. On pure Al, it produced a very hard but brittle Al2O3 layer for which yield points (displacement excursions) were observed at critical load values in the nanoindentation force–displacement curves. On AA7075, XPS chemical profiling revealed an effect of extreme Mg surface segregation and complete Al surface depletion; MgO crystallites formed a rather rough but surprisingly thick layer (>100 nm). The resulting AA7075 surface showed a hardness increase that was substantial but slightly smaller than that obtained at low temperature.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 18 , Issue 12 , December 2003 , pp. 2779 - 2792
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

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