SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1976
STP39061S

Application of Auger Electron Spectroscopy to the Study of Embrittlement in Nickel

Source

Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) was performed on a series of impurity-doped nickel specimens in order to clarify the nature of certain trace element effects that lead to a reduction in the mechanical properties of nickel and nickel-base alloys. Auger electron spectroscopy of the fully embrittled as-cast material showed grain boundary segregation of sulfur, bismuth, and tellurium in order of decreasing intensity when the bulk levels were as low as 40, 10, and 25 ppm weight, respectively. No segregation of lead, antimony, tin, arsenic, or copper could be detected at the grain boundaries. The observed segregation was confined to a very narrow zone in the vicinity of the grain boundary, and since no precipitates could be found by scanning or transmission electron microscopy, it is suggested that the embrittled condition is due to segregation in the elemental form. The data correlate with previous work on nickel alloys that shows bismuth and tellurium to have a more harmful effect on the mechanical properties than the other metallic solutes.

Author Information

Walsh, JM
Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, Materials Engineering and Research Laboratory, East Hartford, Conn.
Anderson, NP
Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, Materials Engineering and Research Laboratory, East Hartford, Conn.
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Details
Developed by Committee: E42
Pages: 58–67
DOI: 10.1520/STP39061S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5587-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0584-3