Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopic study of iron containing surfaces

Abstract

The early stages of the oxidation of plain carbon steels has been studied by ⁵⁷Fe Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy (CEMS). The potential of the technique in elucidating the nature of new surface—and sub-surface—phases formed on massive solid samples is demonstrated. The measurement of the attenuation of conversion electrons in iron-coated stainless steel substrates is shown to lead to a method whereby the thickness of the oxide films on iron may be estimated. Films of iron oxide containing ⁵⁷Fe in natural abundance (ca. 2 %) may be readily studied in situ in the thickness range 5 to 500 nm.