Structure And Tribological Properties Of Ion Implantation Layer Of Copper Alloys

This study was aimed at non-reducing electrical conductivity and increasing surface strength, wear resistance of La2O3/Cu and C/Cu alloys. N, Ag, Ni and Zr ions were implanted into copper alloys by the method of single ion implantation or N and metals ions compound implantation. The depth profile and chemical binding states of element in various depth of implanted layer were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); The microhardness were mesured by mini-load microhardness tester, and the electrical conductivity were mesured by physical property measurement systems; The tribological properties of implanted layer were studied on wear machine.The result revealed that: there was no compound exist in copper alloys by N ions implantation, only a large number of defects and dislocation formed. And the strength mechanism was mainly the dislocation strengthening. It was shown that the depth profile of ions in implanted layer presents a gaussian-like distribution, and the depth was desided by the sort of ions and its energy. Ag or Ni ions did not form any compound but only existed as metal silver or nickel. However, there was a nickel oxide distribution in the implanted layer, due to the effect of ion recoil implantation. After zirconium ion implantation, there were CuZr and ZrO2 precipitates formed in the implanted layer, and the amount of precipitates were decided by the distribution of the concentration of Zr ions. The strength mechanism were mainly for solid solution strengthening and precipitation strengthening. The compound implantion technique of N and metals ions combines the advantages of the two implantation methods, the ion implantation layer became deep. Not only the amount of precipitates increased, but also some new kind of precipitates formed.After ion implantation, the hardness and wear resistance of copper alloys all increased. Because of the "channel effect", in which the implanted ions can moved along with the dislocation net, the wear resistance of copper alloys can increased further. The best way to modify surface properties of copper alloys are the compound implantation of. N ions and Zr ions.There were a few influences on electrical conductivity after N, Ni or Zr ions, and with the increase of the implantation dose, the electrical conductivity decreased. The Ag ion implantation is helpful on the increase of electrical conductivity.Comparison of La2O3/Cu and C/Cu two kinds of materials, the original dispersed phase in copper alloys have any change during implantation, and the their strengthen mechanisms are also samed. The surface modification effect of La2O3/Cu is better than its of C/Cu.