Carburizing of zirconium using a low energy Mather type plasma focus

Carburizing of zirconium is achieved using the energetic carbon ions emitted from a low energy (1.45 kJ) Mather type plasma focus device operated with methane. The zirconium samples are placed at a fix axial distance from a hollow tapered copper anode for the exposure to different carbon ion dose. The peak intensity ratios of the D-band to G-band (I D/I G), G-peak position and G-linewidth in the Raman spectra of treated samples are used to verify the existence and variation of sp 2 and sp 3 hybridized carbon content. ZrC phase in the irradiated samples is confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. A gradual increase of carbon concentration in the exposed samples as a function of ion dose is found in energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses. The crystallites growth and variation in surface smoothness with increasing ion dose exposure is revealed by scanning electron microscope results. Maximum hardness of about 8.51 ± 0.60 GPa, approximately 5 times as compared to that of pristine zirconium surface, is evident for the sample exposed to 60 plasma focus discharges. ►Carburizing of zirconium using Mather type plasma focus operated with methane. ►Existence and variation of sp 2 and sp3 by Raman spectroscopy analysis. ►The presence of ZrC phase by XRD results. ►Variation in surface morphology and elemental composition by SEM and EDX. ►Approximately 5 times surface hardness increase as compared to pristine zirconium.