Patent Number: 044141769
Section: claims

1. In a plasma device, a metallic member exhibiting reduced erosion when exposed to plasma at an elevated temperature, the member comprising: a metallic substrate composed of a first metal and a protective thin surface layer on the substrate, the surface layer comprising at least about 90 atomic percent of a second metal selected from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline earth metals, the first metal being more electronegative than the second metal, the surface layer being characterized by atoms of the second metal having ionic bonds to atoms of the first metal in the substrate and forming a higher ratio of secondary ions to neutrals than atoms of the second metal in bulk form when exposed to said plasma, and the binding energy between atoms of the first and second metal being below the binding energy between like atoms of the first metal and above the binding energy between like atoms of the second metal. 2. In a plasma device, the member of claim 1 wherein surface layer is a monolayer. 3. In a plasma device, the member of claim 1 wherein the second metal is an alkali metal. 4. In a plasma device, the member of claim 3 wherein the second metal is lithium. 5. In a plasma device, the member of claim 3 wherein the second metal is potassium. 6. In a plasma device, the member of claim 3 wherein the second metal is cesium. 7. In a plasma device, the member of claim 1 wherein the second metal is an alkaline earth metal. 8. In a plasma device, the member of claim 7 wherein the second metal is barium. 9. In a plasma device, the member of claim 1 wherein the first metal is aluminum. 10. In a plasma device, the member of claim 3 wherein the first metal is gold. 11. In a plasma device, the member of claim 1 wherein the substrate is composed of the first metal in a major amount and the second metal in a minor amount, the second metal migrating to the surface during exposure of the surface to said plasma to replenish second metal lost by erosion. 12. In a plasma device, the member of claim 11 wherein a portion of the second metal is adjacent the surface layer. 13. In a plasma device, the member of claim 11 wherein the minor amount ranges from a small yet effective amount to about 20 at.%. 14. In a plasma device, a metallic member exhibiting reduced erosion when exposed to plasma at an elevated temperature, the member comprising a bulk portion composed of first and second metals, and a surface layer composed of a second metal, a portion of the second metal on the surface being lost during exposure to said plasma, and the bulk portion providing second metal at said surface to reform said surface layer. 15. In a plasma device, the metallic member of claim 14 wherein said second metal is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and barium and is capable of producing a high secondary ion yield when exposed to particle radiation. 16. In a plasma device, the metallic member of claim 14 wherein said second metal has a low atomic number and is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, and potassium. 17. A method of providing a self-sustaining surface of a metallic member in a plasma device, comprising the steps of: providing a structural member composed of an alloy of first and second metals, the first metal being more electronegative than the second metal with the second metal being selected from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline earth metals, the first and second metals having a binding energy between different atoms above the energy for like atoms of the second metal and below the energy for like atoms of the first metal, and applying energy to the structural member sufficiently to cause atoms of the second metal to migrate to form a surface layer predominantly of the second metal and an underlying substrate. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of applying energy is carried by applying heat to heat the substrate to an elevated temperature. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first and second metals satisfy the equation EQU H.sub.1,2 =.OMEGA.+1/2(H.sub.1,1 +H.sub.2,2) 20. The method of claim 19 which includes the steps of exposing the first layer to plasma during which atoms of the second metal escape from the first layer, and continuing to apply energy to the substrate to cause atoms of the second metal in the substrate to migrate to the first layer. 21. The method of claim 20 which includes the step of providing an electromagnetic field to return a portion of the escaping atoms of the second metal to the surface layer. 22. A method of providing a self-sustaining surface of a metallic member in a plasma device, comprising the steps of: providing a structural member composed of an intermetallic compound of a first metal and a second metal, the first metal being more electronegative than the second metal with the second metal being present in an amount not greater than about 70 at.%, and exposing the surface to plasma to selectively sputter atoms of the first metal to escape the surface thereby leaving a layer of the second metal and an underlying substrate collectively forming the metallic member.