Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2004

Publication Source

Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A

Abstract

The total ion flux and nitriding rate for stainless steel specimens exposed to a modulated electron beam generated argon-nitrogen plasma were measured as a function of distance from the electron beam axis. The total ion flux decreased linearly with distance, but the nitriding rate increased under certain conditions, contrary to other ion flux/nitriding rate comparisons published in the literature. Variation in ion flux composition with distance was explored with a mass spectrometer and energy analyzer as a possible explanation for the anomalous nitriding rate response to ion flux magnitude. A transition in ion flux composition from mostly N2 1 to predominantly N1 ions with increasing distance was observed. Significant differences in molecular and atomic nitrogen ion energy distributions at a negatively biased electrode were also measured. An explanation for nitriding rate dependence based on flux composition and magnitude is proposed.

Inclusive pages

1530-1535

ISBN/ISSN

0734-2101

Document Version

Published Version

Comments

This document is provided for download in compliance with the publisher's policy on self-archiving. Permission documentation is on file.

Publisher

American Vacuum Society

Volume

22

Peer Reviewed

yes

Issue

4

Link to published version

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