Tribological studies of nitrogen ion implantation induced overlayer coatings of amorphous carbon and carbonitride phase

Morphology and microstructure of N+ ion implanted 316 LN steel are found to modify with irradiated substrate temperature. At low temperature of 100 °C, self-similar micro-ripples are formed but at high temperature of 200 and 300 °C, micro-pores and blisters are observed on the implanted surface. Chemically modified surface is found to consist of amorphous carbon and carbonitride phase. Such composite characteristic of implanted steel surface at irradiated substrate temperature of 300 °C shows improved tribological properties with low friction coefficient and high wear resistance.

► Composite phase of amorphous carbon and carbonitride phase is observed on the N+ ion implanted surface of steel.
► Advanced properties of implanted surface shows low friction coefficient of ∼0.05.
► High wear resistance 4.3 × 10−8 mm3/Nm of N+ implanted surface is obtained.