The structure of the NiTi surface layers after the ion-plasma alloying of Ta

The effect of the Ta-ion beam implantation on the micro- and nanostructures of the surface layers of NiTi alloy was investigated using transmission electron microscopy and Auger spectroscopy. It is found that the elements are distributed non-uniformly with depth, so that the sublayers differ significantly in structure. The modified surface layer was found to consist of two sublayers, i.e. the upper oxide layer and the lower-lying amorphous layer that contains a maximum of Ta atoms.