Essential to the characterization of materials using analytical electron microscopy (AEM) techniques is the specimen itself. Without suitable samples, detailed microstructural analysis is not possible. Ultramicrotomy, or diamond knife sectioning, is a well-known mechanical specimen preparation technique which has been gaining attention in the materials science area. Malis and co-workers and Glanvill have demonstrated the usefulness and applicability of this technique to the study of a wide variety of materials including Al alloys, composites, and semiconductors. Ultramicrotomed specimens have uniform thickness with relatively large electron-transparent areas which are suitable for AEM anaysis.Interface Analysis in Type 316 Austenitic Stainless Steel: STEM-EDS microanalysis of grain boundaries in austenitic stainless steels provides important information concerning the development of Cr-depleted zones which accompany M23C6 precipitation, and documentation of radiation induced segregation (RIS). Conventional methods of TEM sample preparation are suitable for the evaluation of thermally induced segregation, but neutron irradiated samples present a variety of problems in both the preparation and in the AEM analysis, in addition to the handling hazard.
