%0 Journal Article %T Ion-Induced Surface Modification of Magnetically Operated Contacts %A Karen Arushanov %A Igor Zeltser %A Sergey Karabanov %A Rafail Maizels %A Evgeny Moos %A Alexander Tolstoguzov %J Coatings %D 2012 %I MDPI AG %R 10.3390/coatings2010008 %X A study has been made of permalloy (iron-nickel) contacts of reed switches before and after ion-induced surface modification using atomic force and optical microscopy, Auger electron and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It has been found that the formation of surface nitride layers enhances corrosion and erosion resistance of contacts. We proposed to produce such layers directly into sealed reed switches by means of pulsing glow-discharge nitrogen plasma. %K reed switches %K ion-plasma treatment %K nitriding %K atomic force microscopy %K Auger-electron spectroscopy %K X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy %U http://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/2/1/8