Automatic Crystallographic Characterization in a Transmission Electron Microscope: Applications to Twinning Induced Plasticity Steels and Al Thin Films

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 693-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Galceran ◽  
A. Albou ◽  
K. Renard ◽  
M. Coulombier ◽  
P.J. Jacques ◽  
...  

AbstractA new automated crystallographic orientation mapping tool in a transmission electron microscope technique, which is based on pattern matching between every acquired electron diffraction pattern and precalculated templates, has been used for the microstructural characterization of nondeformed and deformed aluminum thin films and twinning-induced plasticity steels. The increased spatial resolution and the use of electron diffraction patterns rather than Kikuchi lines make this tool very appropriate to characterize fine grained and deformed microstructures.

1991 ◽  
Vol 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Perez ◽  
J. Reyes-Gasga ◽  
M. Jose-Yacaman

ABSTRACTAn investigation of the phase transformations experienced by the decagonal and icosahedral phases in two different quaternary -alloys is carried out. The transformation in the decagonal phase of Al-Cu-Co-Si alloy is induced by the electron radiation in a transmission electron microscope. However, in the icosahedral phase of Al-Cu-Co-Fe alloy this transformation is induced by annealing. Electron diffraction patterns obtained from both phases suggest that the deformation mechanism involved in these kind of transitions is related with twinning


2005 ◽  
Vol 907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Bradley LaGrange ◽  
Geoffrey H. Campbell ◽  
Jeffrey D. Colvin ◽  
Wayne E. King ◽  
Nigel D. Browning ◽  
...  

AbstractWe have measured the transient events of the α-β martensitic transformation in nanocrystalline Ti films via single shot electron diffraction patterns with 1.5 ns temporal resolution. This was accomplished with a newly constructed dynamic transmission electron microscope (DTEM), which combines pulsed laser systems and pump-probe techniques with a conventional TEM. The DTEM thereby enables studies of transformations that are (1) far too fast to be captured by conventional bulk techniques, and (2) difficult to study with current ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) instruments (which typically require an accumulation of multiple shots for each diffraction pattern). Martensitic transformations in nanocrystalline materials meet both criteria, with their rapid nucleation, characteristic interface velocities ∼1 km/s, and significant irreversible microstructural changes. Free-standing 40-nm-thick Ti films were laser-heated at a rate of ∼1010 K/s to a temperature above the 1155 K transition point, then probed at various time intervals with a 1.5-ns-long intense electron pulse. Diffraction patterns show an almost complete transition to the β phase within 500 ns. Post-mortem analysis (after the sample is allowed to cool) shows a reversion to the α phase coupled with substantial grain growth, lath formation, and texture modification. The cooled material also shows a complete lack of apparent dislocations, suggesting the possible importance of a "massive" short-range diffusion mechanism.


2012 ◽  
Vol 186 ◽  
pp. 53-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Bieda

New subdivision of microscopic investigation called Orientation Microscopy (OM) is already well known in scanning electron microscope (SEM). Needs for investigation in nanoscale contribute to development of an appropriate method for transmission electron microscope (TEM). Automated acquisition and indexing of diffraction patterns, necessary for creation of orientation maps in TEM, cause more difficulties then in SEM. Nevertheless, the techniques of OM are also being developed in the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Microdiffraction has been successfully introduced for creating such maps. Individual orientation measurements, which appeared in the convergent beam mode, can be used for quantitative description of microstructure of fine grained and deformed materials. The idea of the operation of the automated system in transmission electron microscope (TEM) which is developed in IMIM PAS relies on an automatic (with control position of the beam) acquisition of diffraction patterns using digital CCD camera, and indexing them, and then on the analysis of the set of individual crystallographic orientations. The graphic presentation of received sets of orientation can be analysed in order to obtain parameters and characteristics such as texture characteristics, characteristics of grain boundaries (based on orientation relationship) or the stereological characteristics. To illustrate application of this system, orientation maps measured in cold-rolled polycrystalline aluminium and its alloy 6013, and in multi-phase alloys of Fe-Cr-Co system after severe plastic deformation are presented.


2006 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Morawiec ◽  
E. Bouzy

Orientation maps similar to electron backscatter diffraction maps can be obtained in a transmission electron microscope. A method of such mapping by automatic indexing of electron diffraction patterns has been proposed recently. The procedure is relatively simple and fast but it does not avoid the 180° ambiguity. Using tests on simulated patterns, it is shown that under current practice automatic indexing may give a considerable fraction of erroneous solutions. Optimization of measurement conditions leading to a reduction of that fraction is considered.


1998 ◽  
Vol 520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wentao Qin ◽  
W. Shih ◽  
J. Lib ◽  
W. James ◽  
H. Siriwardaneane ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTElectron diffraction patterns and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HREM) images show that the dominant phase in tungsten carbide thin films grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition is WC(1−x). The f.c.c crystal structure and the unit cell size of WC(1−x) have been determined via electron powder diffraction. The two largest and most dominant spacings in HREM images are the {111} and {002} spacings of WC(1−x). Cross lattice fringes along the two most densely populated zones of WC(1−x) are seen. The sizes and aspect ratios of nano-crystals have been measured from HREM images. Stereo analysis of individual nano-crystals has been done. Confirmation of the 3-D structure of WC(1−x) via spacings larger than 0.15 nm will require a tilt larger than 35° between images.


2002 ◽  
Vol 757 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Janney

ABSTRACTArgonne National Laboratory has developed an electrometallurgical process for conditioning spent sodium-bonded metallic reactor fuel prior to disposal. A waste stream from this process consists of stainless steel cladding hulls that contain undissolved metal fission products such as Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ag; a small amount of undissolved actinides (U, Np, Pu) also remains with the hulls. These wastes will be immobilized in a waste form whose baseline composition is stainless steel alloyed with 15 wt% Zr (SS-15Zr). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of simulated metal waste forms (SS-15Zr with up to 11 wt% actinides) show eutectic intergrowths of Fe-Zr-Cr-Ni intermetallic phases with steels. The actinide elements are almost entirely in the intermetallics, where they occur in concentrations ranging from 1–20 at%. Neutron- and electron-diffraction studies of the simulated waste forms show materials with structures similar to those of Fe2Zr and Fe23Zr6.Dissolution experiments on simulated waste forms show that normalized release rates of U, Np, and Pu differ from each other and from release rates of other elements in the sample, and that release rates for U exceed those for any other element (including Fe). This paper uses transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations and results from energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and selected-area electron-diffraction (SAED) to characterize relationships between structural and chemical data and understand possible reasons for the observed dissolution behavior.Transmission electron microscope observations of simulated waste form samples with compositions SS-15Zr-2Np, SS-15Zr-5U, SS-15Zr-11U-0.6Rh-0.3Tc-0.2Pd, and SS-15Zr-10Pu suggest that the major actinide-bearing phase in all of the samples has a structure similar to that of the C15 (cubic, MgCu2-type) polymorph of Fe2Zr, and that materials with this structure exhibit significant variability in chemical compositions. Material whose structure is similar to that of the C36 (dihexagonal, MgNi2-type) polymorph of Fe2Zr was also observed, and it exhibits less chemical variability than that displayed by material with the C15 structure. The TEM data also demonstrate a range of actinide concentrations in materials with the Fe23Zr6 (cubic, Mn23Th6-type) structure.Microstructures similar to those produced during experimental deformation of Fe-10 at% Zr alloys were observed in intermetallic materials in all of the simulated waste form samples. Stacking faults and associated dislocations are common in samples with U, but rarely observed in those with Np and Pu, while twins occurred in all samples. The observed differences in dissolution behavior between samples with different actinides may be related to increased defect-assisted dissolution in samples with U.


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