Patent · US Expired

Method of modifying a surface

US6086726A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
8References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 19, 1998
Grant dateJul 11, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 19, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC23C14/58
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides a surface modification method that provides beneficial changes in surface properties, can modify a surface to a greater depth than previous methods, and that is suitable for industrial application. The present method comprises applying a thin-film coating to a surface of a substrate, then subjecting the coated surface to an ion beam. The ion beam power pulse heats the coated surface, leading to alloying between the material in the coating and the material of the substrate. Rapid cooling of the alloyed layer after an ion beam pulse can lead to formation of metastable alloys and microstructures not accessible by conventional alloying methods or intense ion beam treatment of the substrate alone.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.