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Advanced Characterization Techniques

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Abstract

This chapter first provides a brief introduction to some advanced microstructure characterization tools, such as three-dimensional (3D) atom probe tomography, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and neutron scattering. Applications of these techniques to characterize high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are illustrated in model alloys. Utilization of these advanced techniques can provide extremely useful structural and chemical information at the nanoscale. For example, the identification of nano-twins in the fracture-toughness crack region of an HEA may explain the anomalous increases in strength and ductility at cryogenic temperatures. Another striking feature of HEAs is the large local strain among neighboring atoms, which, in general, are arranged in a crystal structure with long-range order. Our understanding of these types of features, and their effect on material properties, will increase as the microstructural characterization techniques described here are further developed and applied to HEA research.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial supports by Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy’s Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP, grant #00119262), the DOE Office of Fossil Energy, NETL (DE-FE0008855 and DE-FE-0011194), and the US Army Office Project (W911NF-13-1-0438).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Instrument and Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA

    Louis J. Santodonato

  2. Materials Science and Engineering Department, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA

    Louis J. Santodonato

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA

    Peter K. Liaw

Authors
  1. Louis J. Santodonato
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Correspondence to Peter K. Liaw .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Energy Technology, Laboratory & AECOM, Albany, Oregon, USA

    Michael C. Gao

  2. Department of Materials Science and Eng, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Jien-Wei Yeh

  3. Department of Materials Science and Eng, The University of Tennessee, KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, USA

    Peter K. Liaw

  4. State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metal, University of Science and Technology, Beijing, China

    Yong Zhang

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Santodonato, L.J., Liaw, P.K. (2016). Advanced Characterization Techniques. In: Gao, M., Yeh, JW., Liaw, P., Zhang, Y. (eds) High-Entropy Alloys. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27013-5_4

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