In-situ heating correlative studies for additively manufactured and irradiated materials

In this DENSsolutions Wildfire webinar we welcome Dr. Mihaela Albu from the Graz University of Technology, Institute of Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis.

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Abstract

Characterization at high resolution has enabled a fundamental understanding of atomic effects and processes in materials, opening up a new era in materials design. One category of materials that are likely to feature drastic changes in nano- and microstructure are additively manufactured materials. This relatively new technology (also called 3D printing) allows for the design of new alloys and combinations of alloys, as well as for complex geometries. However, the micro- and nanostructure of the 3D printed parts is strongly influenced by the fast cooling process, which although enables the formation of complementary metastable phases, is not experimentally verified.

In this webinar, Dr. Mihaela and her colleagues present analytical STEM correlative in-situ heating experiments performed on additively manufactured parts and high dose irradiation exposed materials. Although high-resolution in-situ heating experiments are very useful to clarify morphology changes, combining them with analytical capabilities such as X-ray spectrometry (EDX) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) provides complementary information on chemical changes and diffusion of elements.

With the help of our Wildfire system, Dr. Mihaela and her team observe the crystallization of existing amorphous phases and the coarsening/shrinkage of grains in 3D printed materials. EDX spectrometry provided complementary information on the diffusion of alloying elements and the nucleation and development of secondary phases at different temperatures. By comparing scanning calorimetry measurements with the in-situ heating studies, they were able to determine the relative temperature at which a particular phase crystallization and transformation occurs. Moreover, using EELS, the detection of very light elements such as helium and tritium was made possible.

We invite you to join this webinar to learn all about 3D additively manufactured parts and how Wildfire can elevate your research to the next level.