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Study of Micro‐Scale Chemical Reactions Using Electron‐Induced Long‐Wavelength X‐Rays
Author(s) -
Scott V. D.,
Love G.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
x‐ray spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.447
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1097-4539
pISSN - 0049-8246
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4539(199611)25:6<286::aid-xrs178>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - electron microprobe , magnesium , microanalysis , materials science , scanning electron microscope , silicon carbide , oxide , composite material , analytical chemistry (journal) , composite number , decomposition , nanoscopic scale , chemical engineering , metallurgy , chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , chromatography , engineering
Electron‐probe microanalysis (EPMA), combined with electron microscopy, has been applied to the analysis of Nicalon fibre and of the interfacial reaction products which occur on a micro‐scale when the fibre is used in the manufacture of magnesium‐based metal matrix composites. Using modern EPMA correction methods, accuracies of a few per cent relative were achieved in quantitative analysis, whilst studies in the EPMA of the shape of long‐wavelength x‐ray emission spectra enabled certain phases present to be identified in unreacted and reacted regions of the fibre. In particular, it was revealed that the diffusion of magnesium into the Nicalon fibre, which occurs during fabrication of the composite, was accompanied by the formation of magnesium oxide and the decomposition of the oxycarbide component of the fibre. It was also shown that the silicon carbide in the fibre did not suffer appreciable chemical reaction, indicative of its greater stability.