Auger and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study of the Tribocontact Surface after Laser Modification A.V. Sidashov 1* , A.T. Kozakov 2 , S.I. Yaresko 3 1 Rostov State Transport University, Rostov-on-Don, 344038 Russia 2 Research Institute of Physics, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia 3 Lebedev of Physics, Samara Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Samara, 443011 Russia sav_teor_meh@rgups.ru Keywords: Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, laser treatment, tool steel, oxide films, tool wear out. Abstract. The samples of the tool steel P6M5 were modified by means of laser irradiation (hereinafter - LO). The chemical composition of the sample surface before and after the LO was studied using the Auger and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (hereinafter - AES and XPS respectively). It was found that while the steel is exposed to LO, the thick oxide layer consisting mainly of the Fe 2 O 3 oxide is formed. It was established that the modification with LO leads to increasing of wear resistance and durability of the R6M5 steel because of a double reduction of the friction coefficient. Introduction Modification of the surface using a pulsed LO [1 – 6] allows solving a number of important problems of modern engineering purposefully, in particular to ensure maximum wear resistance of metal-working tools at the processing of parts by cutting. The exposure on the surface of multicomponent steels based on pulsed LO iron under different gaseous mediums leads to a substantial change in the surface composition and a redistribution of the alloying elements in the depth. All this affects the number of physical characteristics of the surface, including its frictional properties. Test methods and materials The study of sample surface P6M5 steel after pulsed LO with density of laser energy ε ≈ l.8 – 2.0 J/mm 2 [7] was carried out by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy surface by surface analysis system SPECS with monochromatization of X-ray AlKα line with the energy of 1486.6 eV and by Auger electron spectroscopy using ESO - 3 device. The analyzed in the device sample area after the X-ray monochromatization is about 10 mm 2 (this is approximately a rectangle with side lengths ~ 1- 10 mm 2 ). The scanning step in XPS method by energy was 0.1 eV. The energy resolution for the chosen mode of operation was evaluated through Ag3d 3/2 line and was 0.45 eV. Depth profiling by AES and XPS combined with ion sputtering was used for the analysis of the modified layers. The accelerating voltage in the ion gun was 3 kV at current of 3 uA. The rate of removal of steel surface layers by an ion beam was ~ 3 Å/min. The pressure in the spectrometer preparation chamber of the sample during ion etching was 5∙10 -3 Pa. Vacuum at survey by XPS method was no worse than 8∙10 -8 Pa. The loading of the sample was evaluated by spectra of C 1s carbon from natural hydrocarbon contaminants on the surface. While receiving of Auger spectra the accelerating voltage of the electron gun was 3 kV, the beam current - 40 uA, the diameter of the electron probe - ~ 3 microns. The pressure in the Auger spectrometer chamber was no worse than 10 -7 Pa, while during the ion etching the pressure rose to 10 -3 Pa. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows the X-ray spectra of the steel surface before and after 10 minute pre-etching [8 – 12]. Ion etching, which removes surface hydrocarbon contamination, the hydroxyl oxygen groups Materials Science Forum Submitted: 2016-06-12 ISSN: 1662-9752, Vol. 870, pp 298-302 Accepted: 2016-06-14 doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.870.298 Online: 2016-09-05 © 2016 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of Trans Tech Publications, www.ttp.net. (#68894711-03/08/16,10:33:28)