In order to study the effects of zirconium and molybdenum ion bombardment on the aqueous corrosion behavior of zirconium, one group of specimens was implanted with zirconium ions with ions surface densities ranging from 1 x 10(15) to 2 x 10(17) ions/cm(2) at about 170 degreesC, using a metal vapor vacuum arc (MEVVA) source operated at an extraction voltage of 50 kV The other group of specimens was bombarded with molybdenum ion with ions surface densities ranging from 1 x 10(16) to 5 x 10(17) ions/cm(2) at about 160 degreesC, using a MEVVA source operated at an extraction voltage of 40 kV. The valence states and depth distribution of elements in the surface of the samples were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), respectively. Polarization curves measurement was employed to evaluate the aqueous corrosion resistance of the zirconium samples in a 1N H2SO4 solution. It was found that the aqueous corrosion resistance of zirconium implanted with 5 x 10(16) Zr ions/cm(2) is the best in first group samples. For molybdenum ion implantation, the aqueous corrosion resistance of samples declined with raising ions surface densities. The natural corrosion potentials of zirconium samples bombarded with self-ions are more negative than that of the as-received zirconium. While, as for molybdenum ion implantation, the results are opposite. Finally, the mechanisms of the corrosion behavior of the zirconium samples implanted with zirconium and molybdenum ions are discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.