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Optimum tribological improvement of aluminum using oxygen plasma source ion implantation

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Abstract

Aluminum and its alloys show poor tribological properties. Oxygen plasma source ion implantation is an emerging technology for the improvement of the surface mechanical properties of these materials. We found an optimum O ion dose, corresponding to 35 at.% O, for which we were able to obtain nanohardness enhancements by factors of 2× and 3× for pure and alloyed (AA7075) Al, respectively. Nanoscratch test results showed reductions in the scratch depths and the friction coefficients by nearly the same factors. It is also important to control the process temperature (∼160 °C). These improvements are due to the formation of a smooth, stiff, but nonbrittle metal–oxide (Al–Al2O3) nanocomposite.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique–Energie Matériaux et Télécommunications (INRS–EMT), Université du Québec, 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, J3X 1S2, Québec, Canada

    M. Bolduc, B. Terreault, A. Reguer, E. Shaffer & R. G. St-Jacques

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  1. M. Bolduc
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  2. B. Terreault
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  3. A. Reguer
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  4. E. Shaffer
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  5. R. G. St-Jacques
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Bolduc, M., Terreault, B., Reguer, A. et al. Optimum tribological improvement of aluminum using oxygen plasma source ion implantation. Journal of Materials Research 18, 1761–1764 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2003.0244

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2003.0244

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