Search Results for bulk elemental characterization

This article provides a general introduction of materials characterization and describes the principles and applications of a limited number of techniques that are most commonly used to characterize the composition and structure of metals used in engineering systems. It briefly describes the classification of materials characterization methods including, bulk elemental characterization, bulk structural characterization, microstructural characterization, and surface characterization. Further, the article reviews the selection of materials characterization methods most commonly used with metals.

This article introduces various techniques commonly used in the characterization of semiconductors, namely single-crystal, polycrystalline, amorphous, oxide, organic, and low-dimensional semiconductors and semiconductor devices. The discussion covers material classification, fabrication methods, sample preparation, bulk/elemental characterization methods, microstructural characterization methods, surface characterization methods, and electronic characterization methods.

Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) is a major materials characterization technique that can provide information in a short analysis time. It is used for quantitative compositional analysis of thin films, layered structures, or bulk materials and to measure surface impurities of heavy elements on substrates of lighter elements. This article focuses on RBS and its principles, such as collision kinematics, scattering cross section, and energy loss. It describes the channeling effect and the operation of the RBS equipment. The article also provides information on the applications of RBS.

This article discusses several purposes and types of materials characterization techniques. Some of the factors to be considered when selecting appropriate characterization methods are described. The article also presents the scope and organization of this volume.

Microstructural analysis is the combined characterization of the morphology, elemental composition, and crystallography of microstructural features through the use of a microscope. This article reviews three types of the most commonly used electron microscopies in metallurgical studies, namely scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and transmission electron microscopy. It briefly describes the operating principles, instrumentation which includes energy dispersive X-ray detectors, spatial resolution, typical use of the techniques, elemental analysis detection threshold and precision, limitations, sample requirements, and the capabilities of related techniques.

Identification of alloys using quantitative chemical analysis is an essential step during a metallurgical failure analysis process. There are several methods available for quantitative analysis of metal alloys, and the analyst should carefully approach selection of the method used. The choice of appropriate analytical techniques is determined by the specific chemical information required, the condition of the sample, and any limitations imposed by interested parties. This article discusses some of the commonly used quantitative chemical analysis techniques for metals. The discussion covers the operating principles, applications, advantages, and disadvantages of optical emission spectroscopy (OES), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), X-ray spectroscopy, and ion chromatography (IC). In addition, information on combustion analysis and inert gas fusion analysis is provided.

This article briefly discusses popular techniques for metals characterization. It begins with a description of the most common techniques for determining chemical composition of metals, namely X-ray fluorescence, optical emission spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, high-temperature combustion, and inert gas fusion. This is followed by a section on techniques for determining the atomic structure of crystals, namely X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and electron diffraction. Types of electron microscopies most commonly used for microstructural analysis of metals, such as scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and transmission electron microscopy, are then reviewed. The article contains tables listing analytical methods used for characterization of metals and alloys and surface analysis techniques. It ends by discussing the objective of metallography.

This article uses metal and alloy powders as examples to briefly discuss how to perform the characterization of powders. It begins by reviewing some of the techniques involved in the sampling of powders to ensure accurate characterization. This is followed by a discussion on the important properties to characterize powders, namely the particle size, surface area, density, porosity, particle hardness, compressibility, green strength, and flowability. For characterization of powders, both individual particles and bulk powders are used to evaluate their physical and chemical properties. The article also discusses the important characteristics and compositions of powder as well as impurities that directly affect powder properties. It ends with a description of the ignition and dust-explosion characteristics of organic and metal powders.

This article discusses the capabilities and limitations of various material characterization methods that assist in the selection of a proper analytical tool for analyzing particulate materials. Commonly used methods are microanalysis, surface analysis, and bulk analysis. The techniques used for performing microanalysis include scanning electron microscopy and electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The article describes surface analysis techniques, including Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ion-scattering spectroscopy. Bulk analysis techniques, such as X-ray powder diffraction, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and atomic fluorescence spectrometry, are also discussed.

Chemical analysis is a critical part of any failure investigation. With the right planning and proper analytical equipment, a myriad of information can be obtained from a sample. This article presents a high-level introduction to techniques often used for chemical analysis during failure analysis. It describes the general considerations for bulk and microscale chemical analysis in failure analysis, the most effective techniques to use for organic or inorganic materials, and examples of using these techniques. The article discusses the processes involved in the chemical analysis of nonmetallics. Advances in chemical analysis methods for failure analysis are also covered.

Various powder production processes allow precise control of the chemical composition and physical characteristics of powders and allow tailoring of specific attributes for targeted applications. Metal powders are produced by either mechanical methods or chemical methods. The commonly used mechanical methods include water and gas atomization, milling, mechanical alloying, and electrolysis. Some chemical methods include reduction of oxides. This article provides information on the reliable techniques for powder characterization and testing to evaluate the chemical and physical properties of metal powders, both as individual particles and in bulk forms.

This article is an overview of the division Surface Analysis of this volume. The division covers various developed surface-analysis techniques, such as scanning probe and atomic force microscopy. The division focuses on the analysis of surface layers that are less than 100 nm. A quick reference summary of surface-analysis methods is presented in this article.

The overall chemical composition of metals and alloys is most commonly determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and optical emission spectroscopy (OES), and combustion and inert gas fusion analysis. This article provides information on the capabilities, uses, detection threshold and precision methods, and sample requirements. The amount of material that needs to be sampled, operating principles, and limitations of the stated methods are also discussed.

This article introduces various analytical techniques commonly used in the characterization of organic solids and liquids and discusses the challenges in performing the analysis, with examples. Some general advice in approaching a material analysis is also provided.

The characterization, testing, and nondestructive evaluation of ceramics and glasses are vital to manufacturing control, property improvement, failure prevention, and quality assurance. This article provides a broad overview of characterization methods and their relationship to property control, both in the production and use of ceramics and glasses. Important aspects covered include the means for characterizing ceramics and glasses, the corresponding rationale behind them, and relationship of chemistry, phases, and microconstituents to engineering properties. The article also describes the effects that the structure of raw ceramic materials and green products and processing parameters have on the ultimate structure and properties of the processed piece. The effects that trace chemistry and processing parameters have on glass properties are discussed. The article describes mechanical tests and failure analysis techniques used for ceramics.

Quality control of cemented carbides includes the evaluation of physical and chemical properties of constituent raw material powders, powder blends/formulations, green compacts, and fully dense finished product. This article provides a summary of the underlying principles and size ranges for the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard methods of particle sizing and distribution. It presents the methods used to analyze the chemical composition of cemented carbide materials in a tabular form. The article also presents information on microstructural evaluation and physical and mechanical property evaluation of cemented carbides.

Additive manufacturing (AM) has gained increased significance and has been adopted across many industries for various applications. Specific net-shape AM fabrication methods, such as laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF), have matured significantly, leading to aerospace sector R&D focused on the feasibility of using flagship alloys to manufacture complex components. This article presents one example of an aluminum alloy design tailored for laser powder-bed fusion AM. It discusses the integrated computational materials engineering design approach. The article also presents the design for high-strength, high-temperature aluminum alloys.

This article provides a brief account of glow discharge mass spectrometry (GDMS) for direct determination of trace elements in solid samples and for fast depth profiling in a great variety of innovative materials. It begins by describing the general principles of GDMS. This is followed by a discussion on the various components of a GDMS system as well as commercial GDMS instruments. A description of processes involved in specimen preparation and cleaning in GDMS is then presented. Various problems pertinent to multielemental calibrations in GDMS are discussed along with measures to overcome them. The article further provides information on the processes involved in the analytical setup of parameters in GDMS, covering the steps involved in the analysis of GDMS data. It ends with a section on the application and interpretation of GDMS in the metals industry.

This article describes some of the common elemental composition analysis methods and explains the concept of referee and economy test methods in failure analysis. It discusses different types of microchemical analyses, including backscattered electron imaging, energy-dispersive spectrometry, and wavelength-dispersive spectrometry. The article concludes with information on specimen handling.