Modification of chemical properties of materials by ion beam mixing and ion beam assisted deposition

Ion beam mixing and ion beam assisted deposition are powerful techniques for influencing the surface properties of materials. In this contribution, the state of the art for the modification of chemical properties of materials, mainly corrosion and catalytic properties, is reviewed. Modern equipment and techniques are described, and selected examples for illustrating their potential are presented as follows: corrosion protection of aluminum and steel by thin Si, Al2O3, and Ta2O5 coatings; influence of tailored stress states on the corrosion protection of Cr and TiN overlayers; simultaneous reduction of corrosion and wear by multipurpose coatings; doping of powders with gold and platinum for catalytic purposes.