X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of boron implanted 4145 steel surface

The near-surface region of 4145 steel following boron implantation was investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The steel surface was implanted with¹¹B⁺ ions to a constant dose of 1.0×10¹⁷ ions cm^–2 at energies of 30 and 135 keV. The XPS spectrum of the implanted surface showed a shift in the B(1s) level towards the higher binding energy. The observed 188.0 eV binding energy of the B(1s) level was found to be in good agreement with the characteristic binding energy of the B(1s) level corresponding to iron boride (Fe₂B). Hence the increase in surface hardness reported previously is related to the formation of an iron boride layer in the near-surface region known for its hardening capabilities.