Properties and structural-phase state of the surface layers of titanium after combined nitriding

We study the simultaneous nitriding of titanium alloys by two methods: thermodiffusion saturation and ion implantation. Prior to nitrogen implantation, a thin oxynitride film and a thick nitride one were formed on the surface of VT6 titanium alloy of the (α + β)-class (Ti-6Al-4V). We show that nitrogen implantation changes the state of the surface of titanium and increases the surface microhardness of nitride and oxynitride coatings. An increase in the hardness of the surface without loss of its quality is possible in the case of nitrogen implantation into a thin oxynitride film. __________ Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 65–70, May–June, 2007.