Insight into the atomic-scale mechanism of liquid metal embrittlement

• DOI: 10.1063/1.2356322
• Publication Date: 2006-09-20T22:20:55Z
• Authors: W. Sigle; G. Richter; M. Rühle; S. Schmidt
• Keywords: Embrittlement; Liquid metal embrittlement; Atomic units; Atom probe

A method has been developed to investigate material embrittlement on the atomistic level. By ion implantation embrittling agent is introduced into a small volume enclosing segment of grain boundary thin specimen prepared for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). After allowing implanted ions segregate at boundary, position determined by atomic-resolution TEM. In present study this was applied Al(Ga) system. Close correspondence with previous ab initio calculations found and model initial stages proposed.