Field-ion microscope atom probe studies of metallic glasses

Abstract
A field-ion microscope atom probe has been used to investigate the imaging characteristics of Fe40Ni40B2o and Fe75Si10B15 metallic glasses. In the Fe40Ni40B20 glass, a very high percentage of bright-image spots arises from either single boron ions or clusters of boron ions. The clusters of boron were associated with the most prominent bright spots. The Fe75Si10B15 glass showed somewhat different imaging characteristics. Once again, a high percentage of bright spots was associated with single boron atoms or clusters of atoms, but in this case the cluster behaviour was more varied. These results point to severe limitations on the structural investigation of metallic glasses by field-ion microscopy.