Interpreting atom probe data from chromium oxide scales
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Atom Probe Tomography Analysis of Exsolved Mineral Phases
Published on: October 25, 2019
Alexandre La Fontaine1, Baptiste Gault2, Andrew Breen1
1School of Aerospace, Mechanical, Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Abstract:
Picosecond-pulsed ultraviolet-laser (UV-355 nm) assisted atom probe tomography (APT) was used to analyze protective, thermally grown chromium oxides formed on stainless steel. The influence of analysis parameters on the thermal tail observed in the mass spectra and the chemical composition is investigated. A new parameter termed "laser sensitivity factor" is introduced in order to quantify the effect of laser energy on the extent of the thermal tail. This parameter is used to compare the effect of increasing laser energy on thermal tails in chromia and chromite samples. Also explored is the effect of increasing laser energy on the measured oxygen content and the effect of specimen base temperature and laser pulse frequency on the mass spectrum. Finally, we report a preliminary analysis of molecular ion dissociations in chromia.

