High temperature in situ SEM assessment followed by ex situ AFM and EBSD investigation of the nucleation and early growth stages of Fe-Al intermetallics

A dedicated in situ heating setup a scanning electron microscope (SEM) followed by an ex atomic force microscopy (AFM) and backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is used to characterize the nucleation early growth stages of Fe-Al intermetallics (IMs) at 596 {\deg}C. location tracking interpret further characterization. Ex AFM observations reveal slight shrinkage out plane protrusion IM onset directional growth. The formed interfacial compounds were identified EBSD. It now clearly demonstrated that {\theta}-phase nucleates first prior diffusion-controlled {\eta}-phase. prevails intermetallic layer.