Metallurgical insights with the new F1-GIF system

Subtle changes in chemistry and microstructure can enable materials scientist to tailor the properties of metals to fit a wide range of applications. The addition of solute atoms, just a few atomic percent in concentration, is sufficient to achieve improved corrosion resistance, prevent oxidation, and increase toughness and hardness. Alloying elements can concentrate locally in the form of precipitates, further increasing toughness of the metal. Furthermore, the processing steps can be altered to tailor the microstructure. It is critical to utilize characterization techniques that reveal structural and chemical information at the nanometer and atomic scale, enabling materials scientists to link how structural and chemical changes alter the metal’s performance.

In this webinar, you will learn how the new F1-GIF™ system enables scientists to characterize the chemistry and structure of metal alloys. A newly designed prism extends the energy range of the electron energy loss spectra (EELS) for the analysis of critical alloying elements, from carbon to silver. Complementing the larger energy range, you will see how the new camera facilitates the acquisition of weak signals from solute atoms and the higher-energy transition metal L-edges. Finally, we will show how new software features in DigitalMicrograph^® enable the sequential acquisition of EELS and energy-filtered 4D STEM from precisely the same area, linking the chemical and structural information.