Surface Deformation Behavior of BSTOA Ti-6Al-4V during Laser Shock Processing

The surface of a beta solution treated and overaged (BSTOA) Ti-6Al-4V alloy specimen deformed by laser shock processing was studied using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Slip steps were observed within grains oriented with their c-axis nearly parallel to the specimen surface normal. Based on the slip step traces and orientation information, the slip planes were determined to be (11{bar 2}2) for grains with their c-axis within 15{sup o} of the specimen surface normal and (11{bar 2}1) for grains with their c-axis between 15{sup o} and 40{sup o} away from the specimen surface normal. Although both these planes are known to belong to twinning systems, (11{bar 2}2)<11{bar 2}{bar 3}> and (11{bar 2}1)<11{bar 2}{bar 6}> respectively, the latter has not been observed to operate as a slip system. Examination of the Taylor factors associated with these slip systems shows that the grains with slip steps have the lowest Taylor factors. Determination of localized lattice rotations showed a unique behavior in grains with slip steps, such that all the lattice rotations were concentrated about the steps, with almost no orientation variations in between slip steps. This distribution indicates that stress concentrations exist at the slip steps, which could potentially affect the performance of the material

Controlled incorporation of mid-to-high Z transition metals in CVD diamond

We report on a general method to fabricate transition metal related defects in diamond. Controlled incorporation of Mo and W in synthetic CVD diamond was achieved by adding volatile metal precursors to the diamond chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth process. Effects of deposition temperature, grain structure and precursor exposure on the doping level were systematically studied, and doping levels of up to 0.25 at.% have been achieved. The metal atoms are uniformly distributed throughout the diamond grains without any indication of inclusion formation. These results are discussed in context of the kinetically controlled growth process of CVD diamond

The Effect of Solution Annealing on Alloy 22 Weld Properties

The effect of solution annealing temperature on the microstructure and observed corrosion attack mode in Alloy 22 welds was assessed. Specimens were examined in the as-welded state as well as solution annealed for 20 minutes at temperatures ranging from 1075 C to 1300 C. The microstructures of the specimens were first mapped using electron backscatter diffraction to determine the grain structure evolution due to solution annealing. Full recrystallization of the fusion zone was only observed in the 1200 C and 1300 C specimens, although the 1300 C specimen showed abnormal grain growth. As-welded, 1121 C and 1200 C specimens were also subjected to electrochemical testing in a 6 molal NaCl + 0.9 molal KNO{sub 3} environment to initiate crevice corrosion. Examination of the specimen surfaces after corrosion testing showed that in the as-welded specimen, corrosion was present in both the weld dendrites as well as around the secondary phases. However, the specimen solution annealed at 1121 C showed corrosion only at secondary phases and the specimen annealed at 1200 C showed pitting corrosion only in a handful of grains

Application of Electron Backscatter Diffraction to Phase Identification

The identification of crystalline phases in solids requires knowledge of two microstructural properties: crystallographic structure and chemical composition. Traditionally, this has been accomplished using X-ray diffraction techniques where the measured crystallographic information, in combination with separate chemical composition measurements for specimens of unknown pedigrees, is used to deduce the unknown phases. With the latest microstructural analysis tools for scanning electron microscopes, both the crystallography and composition can be determined in a single analysis utilizing electron backscatter diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. In this chapter, we discuss the approach required to perform these experiments, elucidate the benefits and limitations of this technique, and detail via case studies how composition, crystallography, and diffraction contrast can be used as phase discriminators

Electron Backscatter Diffraction in Low Vacuum Conditions

Most current scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) have the ability to analyze samples in a low vacuum mode, whereby a partial pressure of water vapor is introduced into the SEM chamber, allowing the characterization of nonconductive samples without any special preparation. Although the presence of water vapor in the chamber degrades electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) patterns, the potential of this setup for EBSD characterization of nonconductive samples is immense. In this chapter we discuss the requirements, advantages and limitations of low vacuum EBSD (LV-EBSD), and present how this technique can be applied to a two-phase ceramic composite as well as hydrated biominerals as specific examples of when LV-EBSD can be invaluable

Effect of Solution Annealing Temperatures on the Crevice Corrosion Mode of Alloy 22

The effect of solution annealing temperature on the observed corrosion attack mode in Alloy 22 welds was assessed. Three types of specimens were examined, including the as-welded state, solution annealed for 20 minutes at 1121 C, and solution annealed for 20 minutes at 1200 C. The microstructures of the specimens were first mapped using electron backscatter diffraction to determine the grain structure evolution due to solution annealing. The specimens were then subjected to electrochemical testing in a 6 molal NaCl + 0.9 molal KNO{sub 3} environment to initiate crevice corrosion. Examination of the specimen surfaces after corrosion testing showed that in the as-welded specimen, corrosion was present in both the weld dendrites as well as around the secondary phases. However, the specimen solution annealed at 1121 C showed corrosion only at secondary phases and the specimen annealed at 1200 C showed pitting corrosion only in a handful of grains

The Effect of Solution Annealing on the Microstructural Behavior of Alloy 22 Welds

Multi-pass gas tungsten arc welds of Alloy 22 were subjected to solution annealing durations of 20 minutes, 24 hours, 72 hours and 1 week at temperatures of 1075, 1121, 1200, and 1300 C. The specimens were studied in cross section by secondary electron microscopy to determine the effect of solution annealing on tetrahedrally close packed (TCP) precipitate stability. Electron backscatter diffraction mapping was also performed on all of the specimens to determine the recrystallization behavior of the welds. It was found that complete TCP precipitate dissolution occurs after solution annealing at 1075 C and 1121 C for 24 hours, and at 1200 C and 1300 C for durations of 20 minutes. Regions of most rapid recrystallization were correlated to the regions of lowest solute content and highest residual tensile stresses. Texture analysis indicated that while the columnar dendrites originally present in the weld grew with a <001> orientation in the transverse direction (opposite the heat flow direction), the recrystallized grains adopt a <101> orientation in the transverse direction when recrystallization and TCP phase dissolution occur simultaneously