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Updated: Apr 27, 2026
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Electron Channeling Contrast Imaging for Rapid III-V Heteroepitaxial Characterization
Published on: July 17, 2015
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Microstructure refinement of cold-sprayed copper investigated by electron channeling contrast imaging
Yinyin Zhang1, Nicolas Brodusch1, Sylvie Descartes1
11Department of Mining and Materials Engineering,McGill University,3610 University Street,Montreal,Canada QC H3A 0C5.
Summary
Electron channeling contrast imaging revealed that cold spray creates copper coatings with substructures like dislocation walls, cells, twins, and subgrains. These features are key to understanding structure refinement during the cold spray process.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Metallurgy
- Surface Engineering
Background:
- Cold gas dynamic spray (CGDS) is a coating fabrication method.
- Understanding the microstructure of CGDS coatings is crucial for material performance.
- Copper coatings are widely used in various industrial applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microstructure of copper coatings produced by cold gas dynamic spray.
- To elucidate the substructure formation mechanisms during the cold spray process.
- To propose a model explaining structure refinement in copper during cold spray.
Main Methods:
- Electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) was employed.
- Microstructural analysis of copper coatings fabricated by CGDS.
Main Results:
- CGDS resulted in the formation of numerous substructures in copper coatings.
- Observed substructures include high-density dislocation walls, dislocation cells, deformation twins, and ultrafine equiaxed subgrains/grains.
- The high-velocity impact characteristics of cold spray are responsible for these microstructural features.
Conclusions:
- The study provides insights into the substructure evolution in cold-sprayed copper.
- A schematic model highlights the significant role of dislocation configurations and twinning in structure refinement.
- The findings contribute to optimizing CGDS parameters for tailored copper coating microstructures.
