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Optimization of a FIB/SEM slice‐and‐view study of the 3D distribution of Ni 4 Ti 3 precipitates in Ni–Ti
Author(s) -
CAO S.,
TIRRY W.,
VAN DEN BROEK W.,
SCHRYVERS D.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2008.03095.x
Subject(s) - materials science , austenite , martensite , scanning electron microscope , alloy , morphology (biology) , precipitation , orientation (vector space) , matrix (chemical analysis) , crystallography , analytical chemistry (journal) , microstructure , metallurgy , chemistry , composite material , mathematics , geometry , physics , chromatography , biology , meteorology , genetics
Summary The 3D morphology and distribution of lenticular Ni 4 Ti 3 precipitates in the austenitic B2 matrix of a binary Ni 51 Ti 49 alloy has been investigated by a slice‐and‐view procedure in a dual‐beam focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope system. Due to the weak contrast of the precipitates, proper imaging conditions need to be selected first to allow for semi‐automated image treatment. Knowledgeable imaging is further needed to ensure that all variants of the precipitates are observed with equal probability, regardless of sample orientation. Finally, a volume ratio of 10.2% for the Ni 4 Ti 3 precipitates could be calculated, summed over all variants, which yields a net composition of Ni 50.27 Ti 49.73 for the matrix, leading to an increase of 125 degrees for the martensitic start temperature. Also, the expected relative orientation of the different variants of the precipitates could be confirmed.