Edax Inc., a leader in X-ray microanalysis and electron diffraction instrumentation, has launched the Atom Probe Assist, a new tool designed to help users of atom probe tomography prepare specimens for faster and more efficient analysis than previously possible.
原子探测辅助减少了获得高质量原子探针数据所需的总时间，并加速了理解材料研究中问题的进展，例如晶界隔离。亚博网站下载
原子探针断层扫描（APT）是一种材料分析技术，可在原子量表下提供3D化学组成和成像，并且非常适合分析晶界分离。
“Atom probe tomography is an exciting characterization technique that provides chemical composition information and three-dimensional visualization at the atomic scale. It is uniquely suited for analyzing grain boundary segregation in materials, a phenomenon than influences a number of critical material properties,” notes Matt Nowell, EBSD Product Manager at EDAX.
“为了更好地了解晶界分离，必须从较大样品制备的晶界中收集原子探针数据。原子探针试样形成小锥体，晶界必须位于从样品顶端大约200 nm的位置，以获得成功的数据收集。
“传统上，这种准备工作效率非常低。样品是电抛光的，随后在透射电子显微镜（TEM）中进行了分析，以确定晶界是否充分放置以进行分析。通过这种方法，很难控制晶界的最终位置，并且验证在TEM中的位置是耗时的。结果是可用标本的产量低。”
EDAX的原子探针辅助提供了一种准备更快，更安全的原子探针样品的新方法，并提供了更高的可用样品产量。该方法使用传输电子反向散射衍射（T-EBSD）从样品中收集晶体学信息，以量化具有高空间分辨率和精度的晶界位置。
设计用于焦点离子束（FIB），使用环形离子束铣削制备样品，并在每个铣削步骤后检查晶界的位置。一旦晶界位于最佳分析位置，准备就完成了。准备和验证发生在单个仪器中，消除了以更高的损坏或损失风险转移样品的需求。
“There is great synergy between the Atom Probe Assist and Atom Probe characterization. Not only can specimens be prepared more efficiently, but the tool also can be used to identify different grain boundary types, which influence material performance, by using traditional EBSD to help guide site-specific specimen preparation. The Atom Probe Assist has been designed with specialized features to make this process easy to operate while providing quality data,” adds Mr. Nowell.
关于Ametek Edax
Edaxis the acknowledged leader in Energy Dispersive Microanalysis, Electron Backscatter Diffraction and X-ray Fluorescence instrumentation. EDAX designs, manufactures, installs and services high-quality products and systems for leading companies in the semiconductor, metals, geological, pharmaceutical, biomaterials, and ceramics markets.
自1962年以来，EDAX使用其知识和经验来开发超敏感的硅辐射传感器，数字电子和专业应用软件，以促进解决，开发和工业需求的解决方案。
Edaxis a unit of the Materials Analysis Division of AMETEK, Inc., which is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annual sales of $4.0 billion.