Pulsed ion beam surface treatment process for aluminum honeycomb panels to improve corrosion resistance

摘要

A method for improving the corrosion and wear resistance properties of aluminum honeycomb core panel construction is disclosed. In a first embodiment, a surface of an aluminum honeycomb metal specimen is melted using a pulsed ion beam and then left to cool by thermal diffusion. A layer of metallic glass demonstrating enhanced hardness and corrosion resistance properties formed integrally with the specimen surface results. In a second embodiment, the surface of the aluminum honeycomb metal specimen is coated with a thin film of metal material. Ions in the pulsed beam drive the atoms in the metal film into the near-surface region of the aluminum honeycomb metal specimen to create an alloy which also has enhanced corrosion and wear properties.