Ion Beam Processing for Sample Preparation of Hybrid Materials with Strongly Differing Mechanical Properties

• Published in: Metallography, microstructure, and analysis Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 54 - 60
• Main Authors: Barienti, Khemais, Kahra, Christoph, Herbst, Sebastian, Nürnberger, Florian, Maier, Hans Jürgen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composite materials; Intermetallic phases; Ion beams; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Metallic Materials; Nanotechnology; Structural Materials; Surfaces and Interfaces; Technical Article; Thin Films; Interfaces; Intermetallics; Aluminum alloys; Ion beam treatment; Steels
• ISSN: 2192-9262; 2192-9270
• DOI: 10.1007/s13632-019-00605-5

For studies of the interface zone of metallic composites with significantly differing mechanical properties across the interface, high-quality sample preparation is paramount. In particular, the analysis of the composition or geometric characteristics of intermetallic phases close to the interface requires a preparation specifically adapted to the actual sample. In the present study, the combination of ion beam processing and a conventional metallographic preparation routine is investigated. It is shown that by utilizing a suitable combination of metallographic and ion beam processing routines, the interface zone of metallic composites can be prepared specifically targeted to a given analytical task. Especially for material combinations with largely differing mechanical properties of the base materials, ion beam processing can greatly improve the sample preparation quality.