Abstract
The surface composition in Fe-1.9, 3.8 and 5.6 at% Mn alloys was investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Attention was focused particularly on changes in the surface composition by argon ion sputtering and by heating in ultra high vacuum. The depth distribution of manganese near the surface was examined with angle resolved XPS measurements. It was found that manganese atoms are preferentially sputtered from the surface by the ions, and that by heating above 600 K they are segregated to the surface cleaned by the ions. The onset temperature of the segregation is lower than that expected from the bulk diffusion of manganese, indicating that the surface segregation of manganese atoms may be enhanced by surface damages produced by the ion sputtering. Those changes in the composition occur within a few nanometers of the surface, and the behavior may result from a fact that manganese is a volatile and surface-active element.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 192-195 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Materials Transactions, JIM |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1994 Jan 1 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
- iron-manganese alloys
- preferential sputtering
- surface composition
- surface segregation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Engineering(all)