Mechanisms of radiation-induced surface composition modification in VCr alloys at high and low temperature

The effect of 0.5 to 3 keV argon ion sputtering on the surface composition of several alloys of vanadium and chromium has been investigated at temperatures in the range 300 to 950 K. At room temperature, sputtering depletes the alloys in chromium and the relative V/Cr sputter rate constant ratio is found to be 1.20, consistent with the ratio of the pure element sputter yields. Annealing clean alloys at temperatures in the range 550 to 670°C …