Jörg Schmauch

EBSD analysis of the microtexture of Ba-hexaferrite samples

The microtexture of differently prepared Ba-hexaferrite samples is investigated by means of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Kikuchi patterns are obtained with a high image quality, enabling a spatial resolution of the EBSD maps of about 20 nm. The spatially highly resolved EBSD mappings provide additional information (individual grain orientation, misorientation angles, grain size distribution) as compared to the standard analysis techniques, which can contribute to an optimization of the growth process. Furthermore, as the crystallographic orientation of each grain is known, an exact analysis of the grain aspect ratio becomes possible which provides further insight to the microstructural dependence of the magnetic properties of ferrites.

EBSD analysis of MgB2 bulk superconductors

The grain orientation, the texture and the grain boundary misorientations are important parameters for the understanding of the magnetic properties of the bulk MgB2 samples intended for super-magnet applications. Such data can be provided by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. However, as the grain size (GS) of the MgB2 bulks is preferably in the 100–200 nm range, the common EBSD technique working in reflection operates properly only on highly dense samples. In order to achieve a reasonably good Kikuchi pattern quality on all samples, we apply here the newly developed transmission EBSD (t-EBSD) technique to several bulk MgB2 samples. This method requires the preparation of TEM slices by means of focused ion-beam milling, which are then analyzed within the SEM, operating with a specific sample holder. We present several EBSD mappings of samples prepared with different techniques and at various reaction temperatures.

Human dental enamel: A natural nanotechnology masterpiece investigated by TEM and t-EBSD

The micro- and nanostructures of human dental enamel were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). For this purpose, TEM slices were prepared from teeth by focused ion-beam milling. These slices enabled TEM and transmission-EBSD (t-EBSD) investigations to be performed, while standard EBSD on bulk tooth samples resulted only in Kikuchi patterns. On the TEM slices, t-EBSD enabled automated mapping. The TEM images and the EBSD data clearly elucidated the arrangement of the hydroxyapatite crystals on the nanometer scale. Information regarding the crystallographic orientation of the apatite grains enabled the deduction of novel nanotechnological building principles of the enamel structure based on a chain-like arrangement of the crystallites.

Texture analysis of melt-spun Ni-Mn-Ga tapes by means of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)

A texture analysis is performed by means of the electron-backscatter diffraction technique (EBSD) on melt-spun ribbon-like samples of the composition Ni52.5Mn24.5Ga23 (at.-%) were prepared. A dedicated surface treatment is required in order to achieve high quality Kikuchi patterns. For this purpose, mechanical polishing plus ion polishing was employed. EBSD analysis and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the samples have a polycrystalline, granular morphology, with grain sizes around 1 – 2 μm. Several larger grains being present in the region selected for EBSD analysis, and many small grains are found, even embedded in the larger ones. The larger grains exhibit a common direction of elongation, yielding to a specific texture.