Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation with Solid Targets for Space and Aerospace Applications

Journal Article · Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 EST 2009 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3076849· OSTI ID:21255379

Oliveira, R M; Goncalves, J A. N.; Ueda, M; Silva, G ^[1]; Baba, K ^[2]

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1. National Institute for Space Research, PO Box 515, ZIP 12227-010 Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo (Brazil)
2. Industrial Technology Center of Nagasaki, 2-1303-8, Ikeda, Omura Nagasaki 856-0026 (Japan)

This paper describes successful results obtained by a new type of plasma source, named as Vaporization of Solid Targets (VAST), for treatment of materials for space and aerospace applications, by means of plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIII and D). Here, the solid element is vaporized in a high pressure glow discharge, being further ionized and implanted/deposited in a low pressure cycle, with the aid of an extra electrode. First experiments in VAST were run using lithium as the solid target. Samples of silicon and aluminum alloy (2024) were immersed into highly ionized lithium plasma, whose density was measured by a double Langmuir probe. Measurements performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed clear modification of the cross-sectioned treated silicon samples. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that lithium was implanted/deposited into/onto the surface of the silicon. Implantation depth profiles may vary according to the condition of operation of VAST. One direct application of this treatment concerns the protection against radiation damage for silicon solar cells. For the case of the aluminum alloy, X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the appearance of prominent new peaks. Surface modification of A12024 by lithium implantation/deposition can lower the coefficient of friction and improve the resistance to fatigue of this alloy. Recently, cadmium was vaporized and ionized in VAST. The main benefit of this element is associated with the improvement of corrosion resistance of metallic substrates. Besides lithium and cadmium, VAST allows to performing PIII and D with other species, leading to the modification of the near-surface of materials for distinct purposes, including applications in the space and aerospace areas.

• OSTI ID: 21255379
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1087, Issue 1; Conference: 9. international conference on protection of materials and structures from space environment, Toronto, Ontario (Canada), 20-23 May 2008; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3076849; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
CORROSION RESISTANCE
DEPOSITION
ELECTRODES
EVAPORATION
FRICTION
GLOW DISCHARGES
ION IMPLANTATION
LANGMUIR PROBE
LITHIUM
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PLASMA
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SILICON
SILICON ALLOYS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY