Plasma-ion beam treatment of Al for enhanced corrosion

Summary form only given. The micro-second Plasma Opening Switch (MPOS) provides an innovative approach for efficient generation (up to 50% and higher) of large area (10/sup 2/-10/sup 3/ cm/sup 2/) intense ion beams with variable and controlled density in the range of 10-10/sup 2/ A/cm/sup 2/, and energy of 10/sup 5-6/ eV. The paper describes the experimental device and results on the application of low voltage ion beams generated in MPOS for various metals surface modification with focus on Al alloys (Al 2014-24, Al 7075, Al-6061). At a charging voltage of 40 kV, the induced voltage, total MPOS stored current, and ion current amplitudes are 150-200 kV, 100-130 kA and 25 kA, respectively, with the ion current density varying in the range of 10-120 A/cm/sup 2/ along the inner cathode surface. Analysis of structural and electro-chemical properties of the MPOS treated Al samples are given, supported by computer simulation results on the solid/melted/gas phases transition dynamics in the upper layer.