Microstructure and composition analysis of nanostructured materials using HREM and FEG-TEM

The microstructure in nanostructured (NS) materials synthesized by different methods have been characterized by electron microscopy methods. NS-Pd was prepared by inert-gas condensation and in situ compacting method (IGCC), NS-alloys by amorphous crystallization method (ACM) and NS-Cu and Cu100-xFe(x) alloy by mechanical alloying (MA) methods. The experimental results have revealed that different preparation techniques lead to different microstructures. The grain boundaries have ordered and disordered structures and high density of defects were frequently detected in NS-materials synthesized by IGCC and MA. For the NS-alloys produced by ACM, however, the structures of GBs are similar to those in coarse-grained materials and the grains have nearly perfect crystal structure. For immiscible systems, a supersaturated Fe-Cu solid solution can be obtained by MA, but it is difficult using IGCC.