Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
A study has been made on friction and hardness of boron and nitrogen ion implanted Fe-Cr alloys. Ion implantation has been carried out with doses ranging from 5 wt% up to 20 wt% at energies of 50, 100 and 150 keV at room temperature. Reciprocal traces for friction coefficient measurements were performed by using a Bowden-Leben tester at a low speed without lubricant. Hardness was measured by using a micro-Vickers tester at a load of 2gf. Hardness of the specimen increases after the implantation with either of ion species. Friction measurements with reciprocal sliding show that a life-time of decreased friction coefficient depends on implanted ion species, Cr concentrations and acceleration energies. For B+- implantation, the lower the chromium contents are, the longer a decreased friction coefficient lasts. Meanwhile, the friction reduced by nitrogen implantation lasts longer for higher chromium content substrates. Dependence of friction coefficient on an acceleration energy is discussed for B+-implantation.