METASTABLE ALLOY FORMATION BY ION-IMPLANTATION

Implantation into metals at room temperature and at lower temperatures can result in the formation of metastable phases. For low concentrations (not more than about 1 at.%) substitutional and interstitial solutions have been observed for implantation in beryllium, iron, nickel and copper. These results have been explained in terms of modified Hume-Rothery rules and also Miedema coordinates. At higher concentrations (not less than about 10 at.%) both metastable solid solutions and amorphous alloys have been formed in iron, nickel and copper. © 1979.