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Microstructure characterisation and reconstruction of intermetallic particles
Author(s) -
Chen F. F.,
Cole I.,
Hughes A. E.,
Glenn A.M.,
Sapper E.,
Osborne J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
materials and corrosion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.487
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1521-4176
pISSN - 0947-5117
DOI - 10.1002/maco.201307345
Subject(s) - intermetallic , materials science , microstructure , alloy , corrosion , particle (ecology) , metallurgy , aluminium alloy , aluminium , range (aeronautics) , pitting corrosion , composite material , oceanography , geology
Pitting corrosion is associated with the distribution and composition of intermetallic (IM) particles. However, quantitatively studying the relationship between alloy corrosion and IM particle property remains a challenging topic. In this paper, a computational method is presented for IM particle characterisation and reconstruction based on backscattered scanning electron micrographs of aluminium alloy AA2024‐T3. The reconstructed mapping of IM particles provides a 2D map of the intermetallic distribution that conforms to empirical statistical data but is generated randomly. This enables a range of statistically identical virtual microstructures which are generated in order to determine variability in pitting models as well as for systematic variation of input parameters in a sensitivity analysis (e.g., concentration of a given alloying element) used to deduce new microstructural maps for modified compositions. IM particle spatial distribution patterns are analysed based on the reconstruction maps to study the clustering properties of different types of IM particles. The presented approach provides a quantitative tool for studying the relationship between alloy corrosion and the distribution and composition of a range of IM particles.