TEM characterization of Ge precipitates in an Al-1.6at% Ge alloy.
The growth mechanism and morphology of Ge precipitates in an Al-Ge alloy was characterized by a combination of in-situ transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and three-dimensional electron tomography. Anisotropic growth of rod-shaped Ge precipitates was observed by in-situ transmission electron microscopy over different time periods, and faceting of the precipitates was clearly seen using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and three-dimensional electron tomography. This anisotropic growth of rod-shaped Ge precipitates was enhanced by vacancy concentration as proposed previously, but also by surface diffusion as observed during the in-situ experiment. Furthermore, a variety of precipitate morphologies was identified by three-dimensional electron tomography.
Department of Material Science and Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi, Fukuoka, Japan. kaneko@zaiko.kyushu-u.ac.jp
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Kaneko
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Inoke
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Sato
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Kitawaki
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Higashida
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Arslan
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Midgley