Grazing Incidence angle X-ray Diffraction of implanted stainless steel: comparison between simulated data and experimental data

Abstract

Austenitic stainless steel was implanted with specific elements using specific conditions. The goal of this studies was to compare the predicted structural modifications within the implanted layer with the experimental ones observed by Grazing Incidence angle X‐ray Diffraction (GIXD).During ion implantation implanted austenite steel layer undergoes modifications such as austenite lattice expansion, ferrite apparition and structure destruction. The X‐ray diffraction austenite peak shape was predicted using the concentration depth profile of implanted element, the information depth profile of diffracted intensity and a linear relationship between implanted element concentration and lattice parameter. Experimental and predicted austenite X‐ray diffraction peaks are in good accordance as long as the implanted layer contents mainly austenite. Whatever the nature of implanted element, ferrite appears above a given threshold of incoming energy amount. Moreover, the structure of the implanted layer is destroyed above a given amount of incoming energy.