Using XeF2 gas and focused ion beam (XeF2-FIB) imaging to contrast and quantify precipitation in metal

IF 5.5 2区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, CHARACTERIZATION & TESTING Materials Characterization Pub Date : 2025-04-01 Epub Date: 2025-02-05 DOI:10.1016/j.matchar.2025.114806

P.J. Thomas , L. Coghlan , E.C. Galliopoulou , S. He , A.G. Gunn , M. Zimina , C.P. Jones , A.S. Shin , T.L. Martin

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Abstract

Understanding the type, size, and distribution of precipitates within the microstructure of metals is crucial to elucidating their material properties and evolution. However, many characterisation techniques face challenges in effectively distinguishing precipitates from the surrounding matrix. This study introduces the use of gaseous XeF₂ contrast mapping, combined with advanced micrograph processing, to obtain enhanced statistical insights into precipitates and their evolution within steel, Ni, and Zr alloys. In this research, XeF₂ gas is employed to induce ion-channelling contrasts using a Ga Focused Ion Beam (FIB) on experimental Fe9Cr1Mo steel, 316H steel, P91 steel, nickel-based Alloy 690 and Zr1Nb alloy. The application of this technique reveals precipitates and substructures with greater clarity, allowing the extraction of key statistical data, including precipitate type, size, shape, and distribution. Compared to conventional methods, this approach offers a significant improvement in 2D precipitate characterisation and evaluation. The results suggest that the XeF₂ contrast mapping should be considered a valuable addition to the microscopist toolkit for advanced material analysis.

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使用XeF2气体和聚焦离子束（XeF2- fib）成像来对比和量化金属中的沉淀

了解金属微观结构中析出物的类型、大小和分布对阐明其材料性质和演变至关重要。然而，许多表征技术在有效区分析出物和周围基体方面面临挑战。本研究介绍了气态XeF2对比图的使用，结合先进的显微摄影处理，以获得对钢、Ni和Zr合金中析出物及其演变的增强统计见解。在本研究中，XeF2气体利用Ga聚焦离子束（FIB）在实验用Fe9Cr1Mo钢、316H钢、P91钢、镍基合金690和Zr1Nb合金上诱导离子通道对比。该技术的应用更清晰地揭示了沉淀和亚结构，允许提取关键的统计数据，包括沉淀的类型、大小、形状和分布。与传统方法相比，这种方法在二维沉淀表征和评估方面有了显著的改进。结果表明，XeF2对比图应该被认为是一个有价值的附加到显微镜工具，用于高级材料分析。

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来源期刊

Materials Characterization 工程技术-材料科学：表征与测试

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

8.50%

发文量

746

审稿时长

36 days

期刊介绍： Materials Characterization features original articles and state-of-the-art reviews on theoretical and practical aspects of the structure and behaviour of materials. The Journal focuses on all characterization techniques, including all forms of microscopy (light, electron, acoustic, etc.,) and analysis (especially microanalysis and surface analytical techniques). Developments in both this wide range of techniques and their application to the quantification of the microstructure of materials are essential facets of the Journal. The Journal provides the Materials Scientist/Engineer with up-to-date information on many types of materials with an underlying theme of explaining the behavior of materials using novel approaches. Materials covered by the journal include: Metals & Alloys Ceramics Nanomaterials Biomedical materials Optical materials Composites Natural Materials.