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EPMA of spinodal‐like decomposition patterns in (Ti x Nb 1 − x )N
Author(s) -
Wollein B.,
Buscaglia V.,
Lengauer W.,
Bohn M.,
Musenich R.,
Ettmayer P.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
surface and interface analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1096-9918
pISSN - 0142-2421
DOI - 10.1002/1096-9918(200008)30:1<368::aid-sia810>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - spinodal decomposition , electron microprobe , electron probe microanalysis , analytical chemistry (journal) , microanalysis , annealing (glass) , tin , acceleration voltage , chemistry , decomposition , chemical process of decomposition , valence (chemistry) , electron , mineralogy , materials science , metallurgy , phase (matter) , cathode ray , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography , quantum mechanics
Although TiN and NbN are known to form a complete quasibinary solid solution, it was found that upon nitridation of Ti/Nb or annealing of (Ti,Nb)N alloys the formation of large lamellae occurs, which could be optically distinguished by their golden yellow (Ti‐rich) and light yellow (Ti‐poor) colour. Such structures at much smaller scales are known to result from spinodal decomposition. In order to characterize the decomposition process, the samples were investigated by wavelength‐dispersive electron probe microanalysis. The measurement conditions were adjusted in order to account for the Ti Ll and N Kα overlap, as well as to take an appropriate mass absorption coefficient for N in Nb into consideration. Different acceleration voltage for electron probe microanalysis were applied, which showed that the problem can be overcome by tuning the measurement conditions. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.