AES Analysis of Ce and P Cosegregation at Grain Boundaries

The chemical state of grain boundary cosegregation of Ce and P in Fe-P-Ce alloy system was studied by means of Auger Electron Spectroscopy(AES).The Auger peaks of Ce segregated at grain boundaries are found within the range of 60～180 eV.By comparing with the Auger spectra of the Fe-Ce-P intermetallic compound, it is supposed that there is a two-dimensional interfacial phase at grain boundaries with Ce and P cosegregation which is similar to the structure of the Fe-Ce-P compound.

Atomic-Scale AES-EELS Analysis of Structure-Phase State and Growth Mechanism of Layered Nanostructures

A review of our experience in range of electron spectroscopy of the physical vapor-phase deposition and growth of single- and multilayer nanostructures with atomic scale interfaces is presented. The foundation of an innovative methodology for the combined AES-EELS analysis of layered nanostructures is developed. The methodology includes: 1) determination of the composition, thickness, and the mechanism of phase transitions in nanocoatings under the probing depth most appropriated for the range of film thickness 1 - 10 ML;2) quantitative iteration Auger-analysis of the composition, thickness and growth mechanism of nanocoating;3) structural and phase analysis of nanocoatings with use of the analysis of position, shape and energy of the plasmon EELS peak and with subtracting the contribution from the substrate;4) analysis of phase transitions with use of the shift of the plasmon Auger-satellite and 5) non-destructive profiling of the composition of nanocoatings over depth with use of a dependence of the intensity and energy of EELS peaks on the value of the primary electron energy.

Three-Point Bending Test and Crack Detection by Acoustic Emission on Different Spring Steel Wires with Different Crystallographic Textures

In the production of compression springs,high forming velocities and grades of deformation during winding and setting may induce cracks that can lead to failure causing risks of an accident and damage.The AE(acoustic emission)technology,a non-destructive monitoring method,can detect acoustic signals reflected from cracks.To establish this method in the production of technical springs,it was necessary,to find out whether the AE signal is influenced by material properties,phase fractions distribution from tempered martensite,retained austenite,and microstructure including crystallographic texture.In addition,it was investigated to what extent the detected AE signal can be useful to separate between an actual crack and other material responses.Within an in-situ three-point bending test with the AE technology,macro-and micro-crack-typical AE signals were detected for five different spring steel wires(SH,VDSiCr,and FDSiCr according to EN-10270-1 and EN-10270-2).The relative energy related to the initiation,propagation,and growth of cracks caused by mechanical stress was measured using a piezoelectric sensor.If a crack AE signal appeared for the first time,the bending tests were stopped immediately.The results show that the frequency spectrum combined with the intensity of the acoustic signals generated during crack growth depends on the material properties and the crystallographic texture.Furthermore,it could be shown that it is possible to differentiate between micro-crack-typical AE signals and other signals that result from different material responses.

Chemical composition and Mott-Schottky analysis of passive film formed on G3 alloy in bicarbonate/carbonate buffer solution

The chemical composition and semi-conductive properties of passive film on nickel- based alloy （G3 alloy） in bicarbonate/carbonate buffer solution were investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy （AES）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, elec- trochemical impedance spectra （EIS） and Mott-Schottky plot. AES and XPS results showed that the passive film appeared double-layer structure, in which the inner film was composed of nickel oxide, the mixed nickel-chromium-molybdenum-manganese oxides were the major component of the outer film. The electrochemical results revealed that the factors including frequency, potential, time, temperature and pH value can affect the semi-conductive property, the doping densities decreased with increasing potential and pH value, prolonging time and decreasing temperature. According to the above results, it can be concluded that the film protection on the substrate was enhanced with increasing potential and pH value, prolonging time and decreasing temperature.