Electron Microscopy of Phase Transformations In Crystalline Solids: recent results related to the network project
In the first part of the present contribution the technique of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is introduced with emphasis on those aspects relevant to the network and its participants. Especially the possibilities but also the drawbacks of the different modes are highlighted. For the former we note the observation and investigation of atomic, nano- and microstructures, the determination of crystal structures and defects and the in-situ work on phase transformations. Care should however be taken when possible artefacts due to the thinning of the materials can be expected. In order to show the strength of these possibilities, some case studies were selected. Recent results on precipitation in Ni-Mn-Ti austenite, special martensite microstructures in splat-cooled Ni-Al, chessboard patterns in reordered Co-Pt and interfase epitaxy in annealed Ni-Al thin films are presented.