Analysis of the decomposition of Cu–Ni and Fe–Ni alloys at lower temperatures by atom probe

Abstract

The decomposition of alloys can lead to concentration fluctuations with small amplitude and spatial extension. A technique of data evaluation, the repeated smoothing procedure (RSP), is described by which atom probe data of such alloys can be analysed. The procedure is applied to a Fe–Ni Invar alloy, annealed at 625°C, and to two Cu–Ni alloys, annealed at 300°C and at 350°C. Decomposition was observed and quantified in both alloy systems.