The influence of ion irradiation on the morphology and elemental and chemical composition of surface layers of tungsten-free hard alloys

The influence of ion beams of various intensity and duration on the change in the elemental composition and chemical state in the surface layers of the tungsten-free hard alloy 50% TiC–50% TiNi is studied. An analysis of the morphology and composition of the surface layer of the hard alloy after the impacts of continuous and pulsed ion beams is carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is shown that irradiation by a continuous ion beam leads to additional oxidation of the hard-alloy surface. It is established that the impact of the pulsed ion beam leads to formation of titanium carbides in the intermetalloid cluster of the hard alloy and to a decrease of the part of metal oxides in it.