Direct measurement of two-dimensional and three-dimensional interprecipitate distance distributions from atom-probe tomographic reconstructions

Edge-to-edge interprecipitate distance distributions are critical for predicting precipitation strengthening of alloys and other physical phenomena. A method to calculate this three-dimensional distance and the two-dimensional interplanar distance from atom-probe tomographic data is presented. It is applied to nanometer-sized Cu-rich precipitates in an Fe-1.7 at. % Cu alloy. Experimental interprecipitate distance distributions are discussed. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.