X-ray and ion beam investigation of alumina coatings applied on DIN1.4914 martensitic steel

An investigation has been carried out on the crystal structure and composition of the coatings applied by two processes: aluminising and RF-sputtering of alumina (Al2O3) on a high-chromium martensitic steel DIN1.4914. The investigation involved the use of two complementary techniques, namely? powder X-ray diffraction and ion beam methods. The results from the X-ray diffraction had been considered for the fit of the energetic spectra obtained by the Rutherford backscattering (RBS) of alpha particles and by O(d,p) nuclear reaction. By the combination of these two techniques, some new results about the structure parameters, depth profile composition and thickness of the coatings as a function of the technology of their application have been obtained. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.