Characterization of copper precipitation in a 17/4 PH steel: A combined APFIM/TEM study

摘要

A combined atom probe field ion microscopy and transmission electron microscopy characterization of a commercial 17/4 PH steel has been performed. The steel was examined after thermal aging for various times at 482 and 635C. The good mechanical properties of this material are derived from the precipitation of small copper precipitates during thermal aging. Atom probe microanalysis of these copper precipitates revealed that they contained small but significant levels of iron, nickel and manganese even in the overaged condition. Chromium-enriched (alpha)(prime) precipitates were observed after aging at 482C. 5 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.