An equation for the analytical description of the geometry of nanoscale second-phase particles of any shape (spheres, cubes, plates, cylinders, and fibers) is presented: they are elegantly described as superellipsoids. The respective equation involves four parameters, which can be experimentally derived from just one micrograph.
The feasibility of accurately measuring the size and the volume fraction of nano-scale plate-shaped precipitates by atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been explored. For quantitative evaluations their unhandy geometry is conveniently described as superellipsoids. The experimental alloy Ni 69 Co 9 Al 18 Ti 4 served as a model system: plate-shaped disordered γ-precipitates form in the L1 2-long-range ordered γ'-matrix. The results obtained by AFM are compared with those derived from transmission (TEM) and from high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The agreement between the AFM and the TEM results is good. In spite of the low number of SEM images taken, the same holds for Deleted: 8
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