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Applications of analytical electron microscopy to guide the design of boron carbide
Author(s) -
Marvel Christopher J.,
Yang Qirong,
Walck Scott D.,
Xie Kelvin Y.,
Behler Kristopher D.,
LaSalvia Jerry C.,
Watanabe Masashi,
Haber Richard A.,
Harmer Martin P.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/jace.18039
Subject(s) - boron carbide , microanalysis , materials science , boron , scanning electron microscope , silicon carbide , carbide , microstructure , energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy , analytical chemistry (journal) , grain boundary , spectroscopy , metallurgy , chemistry , composite material , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography , quantum mechanics
Compositional analysis of boron carbide on nanometer length scales to examine or interpret atomic mechanisms, for example, solid‐state amorphization or grain‐boundary segregation, is challenging. This work reviews advancements in high‐resolution microanalysis to characterize multiple generations of boron carbide. First, ζ‐factor microanalysis will be introduced as a powerful (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) analytical framework to accurately characterize boron carbide. Three case studies involving the application of ζ‐factor microanalysis will then be presented: (1) accurate stoichiometry determination of B‐doped boron carbide using ζ‐factor microanalysis and electron energy loss spectroscopy, (2) normalized quantification of silicon grain‐boundary segregation in Si‐doped boron carbide, and (3) calibration of a scanning electron microscope X‐ray energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS) system to measure compositional homogeneity differences of B/Si‐doped arc‐melted boron carbides in the as‐melted and annealed conditions. Overall, the improvement and application of advanced analytical tools have helped better understand processing–microstructure–property relationships and successfully manufacture high‐performance ceramics.