Phase characterization of boron implanted 100C6 bearing steel

Ion implantation is now an industrial process used to improve wear and corrosion properties of metals and alloys. The alternations of the superficial layers have a great on the tribological properties of steels such as microhardness, friction and wear rates. The formation of compounds such as nitrides, carbides and borides near the surface results in the surface layer hardening which will reduce the friction coefficient and improve the wear resistance. Moreover, surface amorphization can also change wear properties and consequently affect friction coefficient. Before performing tribological tests, it is important to well characterize the implanted layers. Such a characterization of boron implanted 100C6 steel is presented in this paper. (author). 4 refs, 3 figs