Surface Morphology of Aluminum Foil with Implanted Titanium

Abstract

The samples with titanium implanted on aluminum foil surface (Ti/Al) treated in air at different temperatures (25-500°C) have been studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction, sclerometry, low temperature krypton adsorption. The AFM method data reveal that titanium implantation leads to formation of secondary porous structure, accompanied by a simultaneous increase in the surface area (from 0.004 up to 0.3 m²/g) and mechanical strength of surface layer (from 1.5 up to 3.3 GPa) in comparison with initial aluminum foil. Maximum values of specific surface area (1.3 m²/g) and mechanical strength of surface layer (5.2 GPa) are obtained after treatment of implant at 400 °C, which is associated with the formation of a larger number of mesopores in the surface layer. The prospect of using such a sample as catalysts support is shown.