Progress in ion implantation technology for metal surface treatments and other related topics

Since the early 1970's, ion implantation in non-semiconductor materials has been carried out for modifying materials surfaces with high performance and multiple function. In this paper, firstly the research studies of material surface modification by ion implantation obtained in RIKEN are briefly explained. Secondly, from the standpoint of improvement of the lifetime of tools, the tribological property of nitrogen implanted tool steels is introduced, and several points for using implanted tools in industry are picked up. Thirdly, ion beam mixing (dynamic mixing) is described to be a key technology to overcome some technological and economical limitations of direct ion implantation. Finally, the cell adhesion control of polymer surfaces by ion bombardment or implantation, ion beam bombardment to inner wall surfaces of small diameter polymer tubes and their applications to biomedical materials are introduced as a topic.