Spectrum Imaging and Three-dimensional Atom Probe Studies of Fine Particles in a Vanadium Micro-Alloyed Steel
Abstract:
Sub-15 nm vanadium based particles are one of the strengthening mechanisms in vanadium microalloyed high strength low alloy steel. Two analytical methods, spectrum imaging using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and three-dimensional atom probe, have been used to characterise such particles in the matrix, confirming the results of an earlier EELS study using extraction replicas where the particles were found to be N rich (V,Cr)(C,N). The present study also showed that the extraction efficiency of particles <4 nm is low. The three-dimensional atom probe showed an 'atmosphere' of segregated atoms around the cores of the particles and this was supported by the EELS results. In addition, it showed that the C concentration in the matrix was close to the equilibrium concentration at 600°C, supporting the explanation that the low C content of the particles was the result of Fe3C formation. Areas where the techniques can be further improved are identified.
Keywords:
Atom probe, Tomography, Nanoanalytical electron microscopy, Spectrum imaging, Precipitation, Steel
Author:
A. J. Craven (1), M. MacKenzie (1), A. Cerezo (2), T. Godfrey (2) and P. H. Clifton (3)
Affiiation
(1) Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK
(2) Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PH, England, UK
(3) Imago Scientific Instruments, 5500 Nobel Drive, Madison, WI 53711, USA
External Link:
External LinkSource:
Materials Science and Technology, Vol. 24, No. 6, 2008, pp. 641-650
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