Development of atom probe specimen preparation techniques for specific regions in steel materials.
More elaborated specimen preparation techniques for atom probe analysis were developed using a focused ion beam with a sample lift-out system so as to expand the application field in steel materials. The techniques enable atom probe analysis of sample steel at site-specific regions of interest. The preferable form of the needle specimen was provided by electrostatic field calculation using a finite element method. The new techniques were applied to the observation of a bainite-ferrite interface in a low carbon steel, and atomic-scale partitioning and segregation of alloying elements at the phase interface were directly observed in three dimensions.
Takahashi
Jun
J
Advanced Technology Research Labs., Nippon Steel Corporation, 20-1 Shintomi, Futtsu-city, Chiba 293-8511, Japan. takahasi@re.nsc.co.jp
Kawakami
Kazuto
K
Yamaguchi
Yukiko
Y
Sugiyama
Masaaki
M