Damage generated by MeV-ion Beams on Titanium Surface in Oxidizing Environment

The study of the irradiation effects on titanium surfaces in oxidizing environment using multi-charged Argon ions in the MeV range shed into light the following points:-Significant oxide film thickening for the film grown at 500°C under irradiation at 4 and 9 MeV, by comparison with the TiO2 rutile film grown under same environmental conditions without irradiation;-Formation of large round –shaped craters, of diameter approaching 200 nanometers, at the titanium surface under irradiation at 500°C provided that the environment is enough oxidizing or provided that the metal surface is covered by a sufficiently thick oxide film. Practically, and for the present system, the superficial craterization is observed if the thickness of the superficial oxide is equal to twice that of the native oxide (~3 nm).