Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis - CEMAS

At CEMAS, researchers use advanced electron microscopy to improve high-temperature materials such as Inconel 718, which faces limits at elevated temperatures due to phase instability.

In this study, researchers from Ohio State added tiny oxide particles (yttria) to the material during the additive manufacturing process and then used CEMAS’ multi-scale, multi-modal electron microscopy capabilities to closely examine the results.

The added particles integrated into the material without disrupting its overall structure and naturally settled along key internal features. While high-temperature strength showed only a slight improvement, the main finding is that the material's ductility at elevated temperatures increased significantly.

This directly addresses the intermediate-temperature embrittlement commonly observed in additively manufactured Inconel 718, suggesting a promising pathway to improve performance in demanding applications.

This research showcases how CEMAS’ advanced microscopy infrastructure empowers scientists to link processing, structure and properties at the nanoscale, driving innovation in additive manufacturing and the design of next-generation materials.

Microstructural Evolution and Strength of 3D Printed and Directly Aged ODS-Strengthened Inconel718 - Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A The high-temperature capability of Inconel718 is limited by the coarsening and dissolution of its primary strengthening phase, the γ′′ precipitates. To enhance its performance, this study introduces oxide-dispersion strengthening (ODS) particles by coating alloy powder with nanoscale yttria via...

New insight from CEMAS 🔬

Using HRSTEM HAADF imaging, researchers can see the nucleation of a complex carbide within a microtwin in the fcc matrix of an additively manufactured Ni‑based superalloy. Postdoc Andreas Bezold was able to capture this image on CEMAS' Themis Z S/TEM.