Defect imaging and detection of precipitates using a new scanning positron microbeam

We report on a newly developed scanning positron microbeam based on threefold moderation of positrons provided by the high intensity positron source NEPOMUC. For brightness enhancement a remoderation unit with a 100 nm thin Ni(100) foil and 9.6% efficiency is applied to reduce the area of the beam spot by a factor of 60. In this way, defect spectroscopy is enabled with a lateral resolution of 33 mu m over a large scanning range of 19 x 19 mm(2). Moreover, 2D defect imaging using Doppler broadening spectroscopy (DBS) is demonstrated to be performed within exceptional short measurement times of less than two minutes for an area of 1 x 1 mm(2) (100 x 100 mu m(2)) with a resolution of 250 mu m(50 mu m). We studied the defect structure in laser beam welds of the high-strength age-hardened Al alloy (AlCu6Mn, ENAW-2219 T87) by applying (coincident) DBS with unprecedented spatial resolution. The visualization of the defect distribution revealed a sharp transition between the raw material and the welded zone as well as a very small heat affected zone. Vacancy-like defects and Cu rich precipitates are detected in the as-received material and, to a lesser extent, in the transition zone of the weld. Most notably, in the center of the weld vacancies without forming Cu-vacancy complexes, and the dissolution of the Cu atoms in the crystal lattice, i.e. formation of a supersaturated solution, could be clearly identified.