By changing a setup and using electron transparent samples, hundreds of laboratories worldwide have access to a characterization technique, transmission Kikuchi diffraction, that measures grain sizes and orientations in nanocrystalline materials.

An in-situ annealing technique combined with electron backscatter diffraction was used to characterize the microstructural evolution of ZE20 magnesium alloy as a function of temperature. This work sets the stage for future experiments to understand and control the recrystallization behavior of commercial alloys.

This article series explores the indispensable role of characterization in the development of cold spray coatings. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is a characterization technique that enables determination of crystal orientations, texture, boundary misorientations and deformation behavior, and bonding mechanism in cold spray coatings.

Because electron backscatter diffraction is a surface-sensitive technique, preparing the sample surface so that it is smooth and free of defects is crucial to successful analysis. Supplementing hand polishing with ion milling provides a superior surface finish free of operator or technique-related errors, thus enabling a high-confidence EBSD examination of the microstructure of even the most complex materials.

This article discusses the development and use of a nondestructive evaluation (NDE) method that allows researchers to compare surface crystallographic orientations before and after mechanical testing to determine the impact of surface orientation on material response. Two gage samples were tested, one rectangular (Ti-Al), the other round (IN100). The samples were placed in a SEM equipped with an EBSD detector and a motorized fixture that rotates the test piece as EBSD and imaging data are collected. Inverse pole figure maps of both gage samples are presented.

Recent advances in neutron sources and detector technologies enable new contrast mechanisms to determine crystalline information for metal components. This new capability can help validate emerging additive manufacturing processes used to produce parts with complex geometries.

This article explains how SEM, TEM, and atom probe tomography are being used in the development of additively manufactured high-entropy alloys (HEAs), revealing critical features such as anisotropic microstructure and metallurgical defects. It also discusses ongoing efforts to improve the predictability and analysis of HEA microstructure using data-driven approaches.

High-speed, high-fidelity techniques used to analyze texture and dislocation content enable greater understanding of the influence of texture on deformation of titanium alloys than previously possible. This article describes a study in which specimens were examined using graphical slip band analysis to understand the influence of microstructure, alloy content, and loading orientation on the surface deformation response of titanium.

Optimizing the integrity and performance of highly engineered surfaces and structures requires the ability to visualize and understand material behavior over multiple length and time scales from a three-dimensional perspective. The Electron Microscopy Centre at the University of Manchester is equipped for such work as demonstrated in problem-solving scenarios involving multiscale imaging and analysis of the progression of intergranular corrosion in Al alloy 2024, the catalytic effect of silver nanoparticles in seawater, recrystallization in a volume element of a bronze alloy, and defect progression on graphene surfaces.

An investigation into the chemistry and type of tungsten carbide powder used for drill bits has yielded a material with improved transverse rupture strength and interesting microstructural response to thermal cycling.

Through a series of case studies, the benefits of micro x-ray fluorescence (XRF) over traditional XRF are demonstrated in the power generation industry for informing weld procedures, identifying root cause, and providing materials or component specifications.

This article describes research at Los Alamos National Laboratory that is aimed at building a coupled experimental and computational methodology that supports the development of predictive damage capabilities by: (1) capturing real distributions of microstructural features from real material and implementing them as digitally generated microstructures in damage model development, and (2) distilling structure-property information to link microstructural details to damage evolution under a multitude of loading states.

Researchers at the University of Michigan are investigating the complex heterogeneous phase transformations associated with deformation in shape memory alloys by means of in-situ tensile loading in combination with SEM, EBSD, and digital image correlation. This article describes the general approach and presents and interprets test results.

Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) use a combination of scanning and transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and focused ion beam milling to analyze corrosion and crack structures in light-water reactor components with near-atomic spatial resolution.

3D laser microscopy is opening new areas of study for metallic alloys and coatings in power generation applications. This article describes some case studies where laser microscopy has augmented, and in some cases replaced, metallic alloy characterization using optical microscopy or scanning electron microscopy.

This article presents the results of a study in which stress corrosion crack growth was examined in situ in aluminum alloy samples. Precracked test specimens were mounted in a customized load frame and a scanning vibrating probe was used to map potential gradients induced by electrochemical coupling current around the crack tip, mouth, and surrounding surfaces. The authors describe the test setup and present and analyze their findings.

A novel brazing approach for joining SiC-based fuel cladding is a promising technology for enhanced accident-tolerant nuclear fuels.

Wavelength-dependent or hyperspectral imaging is a novel nondestructive characterization technique in the field of neutron radiography and computed tomography. A dedicated facility named VENUS is currently being built at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to provide these characterization capabilities for academia, industry, and other national laboratories. This feature article describes the VENUS capabilities for materials science and engineering, provides a quick overview of the modes of access of the facility, and illustrates the nondestructive measurements and interpretation of results.

Despite decades of research, fundamental questions still exist regarding the role of microtexture on the deformation, fatigue, and fracture behavior of titanium alloys. This article describes the microstructural evolution processes that result in microtexture formation, while Part II of this series will further elaborate on the effects of microtexture on deformation behavior.

Computer modeling is used in the design and development stages of induction hardening to optimize the process and to improve component quality including hardness, beneficial stress distributions, and reduced distortion.