Structural evolution and strain induced mixing in Cu–Co composites studied by transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography

Journal Article · Sun Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Materials Characterization

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATCHAR.2014.12.022· OSTI ID:22476043

Bachmaier, A., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]; Aboulfadl, H., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[2]; Pfaff, M., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[3]; Mücklich, F., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[2]; Motz, C., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]

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1. Chair of Materials Science and Methods, Saarland University, Saarbrücken (Germany)
2. Chair of Functional Materials, Saarland University, Saarbrücken (Germany)
3. INM-Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken (Germany)

A Cu–Co composite material is chosen as a model system to study structural evolution and phase formations during severe plastic deformation. The evolving microstructures as a function of the applied strain were characterized at the micro-, nano-, and atomic scale-levels by combining scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy including energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The amount of intermixing between the two phases at different strains was examined at the atomic scale using atom probe tomography as complimentary method. It is shown that Co particles are dissolved in the Cu matrix during severe plastic deformation to a remarkable extent and their size, number, and volume fraction were quantitatively determined during the deformation process. From the results, it can be concluded that supersaturated solid solutions up to 26 at.% Co in a fcc Cu–26 at.% Co alloy are obtained during deformation. However, the distribution of Co was found to be inhomogeneous even at the highest degree of investigated strain. - Highlights: • Structural evolution in a deformed Cu–Co composite is studied on all length scales. • Amount of intermixing is examined by atom-probe tomography. • Supersaturated solid solutions up to 26 at.% Co in Cu are observed.

• OSTI ID: 22476043
• Journal Information: Materials Characterization, Vol. 100; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1044-5803
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALLOYS
COBALT
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
COPPER
DEFORMATION
DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY-LOSS SPECTROSCOPY
FCC LATTICES
MICROSTRUCTURE
MIXING
PLASTICITY
PRESSURE RANGE MEGA PA 10-100
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOLID SOLUTIONS
STRAINS
TOMOGRAPHY
TORSION
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY