Effects of Nitrogen and Helium Ion Implantation on Uniaxial Tensile Properties of 316 SS Foils

Abstract

Implantation of nitrogen into steels is known to affect surface sensitive mechanical properties. Tensile properties of thin foils implanted with either nitrogen or helium at 300 K have been measured. Fluences greater than 1 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm² raise the yield stress and fracture stress and reduce the plastic strain to failure. Both nitrogen and helium give comparable stress-strain responses for equal average concentrations of implanted ions. The mechanical response is discussed in terms of plastic flow of laminated structures and hardening mechanisms. Initial results of atom probe field ion microscopy examinations of nitrogen implanted Fe-15 wt.% Cr-12 wt.% Ni alloy are described.