Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Multicharged, pure, high current and pulsed ion beams of Zr have been extracted from a metal vapour vacuum arc (MEVVA) source and implanted into AISI D3 (C: 2-2,35 percent, Mn: 0,60 percent, Si: 0,60 percent, Cr: 11-13,50 percent, Ni: 0,30 percent, W: 1 percent, V: 1 percent) tool steel samples at the 3,6.1016, 5.1016 and 1.1017 ions/cm2 doses. The wear resistance and friction coefficient have been estimated using pin-on-disc wear tests. Implantation of Zr decreased the wear loss and friction coefficient. RBS, AES and SEM Microprobe analyses were used as a guide for explanation of implantation's effects.