Techniques and equipment for non-semiconductor application of ion implantation

Ion implantation is now being applied successfully to the treatment of engineering tools and components in order to improve their resistance to wear, fatigue and oxidation. Examples are given to show the effectiveness of the process in steels, chromium, cemented carbides and titanium alloys. These applications have led to the development of a new range of equipment to provide the necessary high beam currents and versatile work-handling facilities. The process of bombardment-diffused coating (BDC), by which a thin metallic coating is caused to diffuse into the substrate under ion bombardment, is providing new possibilities for tailoring the surface properties of materials to meet arduous conditions. (orig.)