Sandia Corporation

Timothy J Renk

Michael O Thompson

Kenneth S Grabowski

Neil R Sorensen

Rudolph G Buchheit, Jr

Donna Cowell Senft

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.

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Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Timothy J Renk