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Iron aluminides depict a sustainable and light-weight material class which could be employed in many applications requiring high strength at intermediate to high temperatures. According to first results, the alloy Fe-26Al-4Mo-0.5Ti-1B surpasses conventional materials in wet corrosion resistance and creep resistance up to 650 °C. For these reasons, the AiF research project “WAFEAL – Materials applications for iron aluminides” was initiated to transfer these findings into a standardised materials dataset and to derive best practices for processing. In the first place, a set of different microstructures adjusted by varying casting methods, wall thicknesses and heat treatments was investigated and correlated with hardness on macro and micro scale. Correlations were drawn between solidification rates and resulting grain sizes and hardness. The effect of vacancy hardening was only verified for wall thickness as low as 2.5 mm. Moreover, a common decrease of macrohardness after a heat treatment at 1000 °C for 100 h was observed irrespective of casting process or wall thickness. This effect was linked with an unexpected decrease of the complex boride phase fraction which acts as a hardening phase.
Due to the increasing scarcity of critical raw materials current high-temperature materials are sought to be replaced by alloys based on more abundant metals. One possibility within the class of intermetallics are iron aluminides, which combine sustainability and cost-efficiency with the prospect of mass savings. Iron aluminides show competitive specific strength up to 700 °C and excellent creep and wet corrosion resistance by small additions of Mo, Ti and B. Nevertheless, a Mo content of above 2 at.% which is needed for optimum corrosion resistance results in enhanced brittleness, especially at room temperature. This is why alloys with these Mo fractions were only mechanically tested under compressive loading so far. Still, testing of static and creep properties under tensile loading is required for reliable component design. Besides high standards for crack-free processing, data acquisition for tensile loads is especially complicated by environmental embrittling effects for iron aluminides. To cope with these challenges, the AiF research project “WAFEAL – Materials applications for iron aluminides” was initiated. The main goal is to collect standardised data on ambient and high-temperature tensile properties and creep properties. Samples with a nominal composition of Fe-26Al-4Mo-0.5Ti-1B [at.%] were manufactured via centrifugal casting in ceramic shell moulds followed by machining. Heat treatment for homogenisation and final polishing were carried out where appropriate. A summary of the achieved tensile and creep properties such as yield and tensile strength, maximum elongation, secondary creep rate and stress exponents will be given. Results will be also discussed regarding the influence of temperature, stress level and microstructure on the damage mechanisms. Furthermore, the effect of different alloy concentrations on the mechanical response at different temperatures will be outlined within a small experimental series.
With an increasing demand in more efficient fuel consumption to reduce CO2 emissions, weight reductions in high-temperature materials at affordable costs gain increasing attention. One potential candidate is the intermetallic material class of iron aluminides, combining the advantages in mass savings, high temperature performance and recyclability of resources. The alloy Fe-26Al-4Mo-0.5Ti-1B was selected to study the microstructural features evolving from two casting processes, five wall thicknesses and three final conditions. Conclusions are drawn upon the correlations of processing variables, grain sizes and hardness.
Iron aluminides, already reported in the late 19th century, did not cease to attract the interest of scientists and engineers ever since. Besides good oxidation resistance, low density and resource availability, potentials for hightemperature strengths that compete with high-alloy steels were unlocked by low alloy contents. Still, research on alloy design continues, as alloying usually comes at the price of brittleness in low-temperature regimes. A potential candidate is the quinary Fe–Al–Mo–Ti–B system which is strengthened by solid solution and eutectic borides. It was shown to have good strength and outstanding creep resistance under compressive loading up to elevated temperatures. Although the individual effect of alloy additions is well understood in iron aluminides, little is known about the combined effects of alloying concentrations on microstructure, phase stability and mechanical properties. Therefore a systematic study of two Ti-doped near-Fe3Al alloys with varying contents of Mo (2–4 at.%) and B (0.5–1 at.%) was conducted. In total eight different alloys were fabricated by investment casting into ceramic shell molds. Alloys were characterized and compared by grain size, phase transitions, microstructure evolution as well as elemental compositions and volume fractions of phases. For mechanical characterization, macrohardness and microhardness tests as well as tensile tests at ambient and high tempera tures were conducted. Independent of alloy additions, alloys with 24–25 at.% Al exhibit superior proof strength due to a higher matrix hardness. Decreasing B content generally decreases strength by lower secondary phase fractions which contribute via particle hardening. Reducing Mo content decreases both the solute concentration in the matrix and secondary phase fractions. Surprisingly, strength is similar or even superior to alloys with higher Mo content. Strength relations are discussed with a focus on solid-solution hardening theory and other competing strengthening mechanisms.
The increasing importance of resource availability and closed-loop material cycles are driving materials research to reduce alloying content in conventional materials or even substitute them with more sustainable alternatives. Intermetallic iron aluminide alloys (FeAl) present a potential alternative. Many alloy concepts for improved high-temperature properties or ductility have already been successfully implemented in casting technologies on a laboratory scale. However, successful testing of FeAl alloys on an industrial scale was still pending at the beginning of the project.
Therefore, the aim of the project was to develop simulation-based casting concepts for industrial casting processes using the base alloy Fe-26Al-4Mo-0.5Ti-1B and to narrow down process limits by means of hot cracking tests. Findings were transferred into practice-oriented guidelines for casting of iron aluminides, which is accessible to future applicants in SMEs. The focus was placed on centrifugal casting combined with investment casting or die casting. In addition to numerous design and casting process parameters, heat treatments and alloying additions (Al, Mo, B) were varied to determine the influence of alloying elements on castability, microstructure and mechanical properties. Data from microstructure analyses (microscopic imaging, determination of grain sizes as well as phase compositions and volume fractions, fractography), mechanical tests (hardness measurements, compression tests, ambient and high-temperature tensile tests, creep tests) as well as measurements of thermophysical properties could be generated on the base alloy. Correlations of materials data with process variables allowed conclusions to be drawn on strengthening mechanisms and ductility of the alloy and how they can be controlled in terms of processing and component design. Successful casting of highly complex components with thin wall thicknesses and optimised alloy compositions points out prospects for new fields of application.
The increasing importance of resource availability and closed-loop material cycles are driving materials research to reduce alloying content in conventional materials or even substitute them with more sustainable alternatives. Intermetallic iron aluminide alloys (FeAl) present a potential alternative. Many alloy concepts for improved high-temperature properties or ductility have already been successfully implemented in casting technologies on a laboratory scale. However, successful testing of FeAl alloys on an industrial scale was still pending at the beginning of the project.
Therefore, the aim of the project was to develop simulation based casting concepts for industrial casting processes using the base alloy Fe-26Al-4Mo-0.5Ti-1B and to narrow down process limits by means of hot cracking tests. Findings were transferred into practice-oriented guidelines for casting of iron aluminides, which is accessible to future applicants in SMEs. The focus was placed on centrifugal casting combined with investment casting or die casting. In addition to numerous design and casting process parameters, heat treatments and alloying additions (Al, Mo, B) were varied to determine the influence of alloying elements on castability, microstructure and mechanical properties. Data from microstructure analyses (microscopic imaging, determination of grain sizes as well as phase compositions and volume fractions, fractography), mechanical tests (hardness measurements, compression tests, ambient and high-temperature tensile tests, creep tests) as well as measurements of thermophysical properties could be generated on the base alloy. Correlations of materials data with process variables allowed conclusions to be drawn on strengthening mechanisms and ductility of the alloy and how they can be controlled in terms of processing and component design. Successful casting of highly complex components with thin wall thicknesses and optimised alloy compositions points out prospects for new fields of application.
9-12% Cr ferritic-martensitic stainless steels are widely used as high temperature construction materials in fossil fueled power plants due to their excellent creep and oxidation resistance, but changes in electricity markets during the last two decades have considerably changed the typical working conditions of these facilities. The growing share of renewable energy sources in power generation forces most of these plants into flexible operation with frequent load shifts or shutdowns. These cyclic operation profiles constitute a major lifetime issue, raising the question which fundamental processes govern the reaction of ferritic-martensitic steels to cyclic load and temperature variations.
The present contribution reports on current findings obtained in a multidisciplinary project funded by German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) which combines cyclic mechanical and cyclic oxidation testing of different 9-12% Cr grades with detailed microstructural analyses and related micromechanical modeling.
In the present first part of our contribution, an overview will be given on the results obtained in the mechanical testing programme of the project. Mechanical analyses were carried out on P91 and (mainly) P92 steel grades, particularly looking at softening phenomena and lifetimes obtained in isothermal cyclic loading (low cycle fatigue, LCF), non-isothermal cyclic loading (thermo-mechanical fatigue, TMF), and service-like combinations of creep and fatigue periods. For this purpose, cylindrical specimens were extracted from thick-walled steam pipes, orthogonal to the pipe axis, and subjected to strain controlled cyclic loading (± 0.2 to ±0.5 % mechanical strain) to different degrees of softening at temperatures up to 620 °C.
The test results will be presented and discussed with a focus on the impact of hold periods (i.e. combined creep-fatigue conditions) on mechanical softening, lifetime and crack formation. Details on the microstructural evolution and their representation in a micromechanical model will be given in a second, complementary contribution to this conference.
Unlike conventional alloys, which typically consist of one main element, high-entropy alloys (HEAs) contain five or more principal elements, which broaden chemical complexity and with it a realm of synergistic mechanisms. The AlMo0.5NbTa0.5TiZr HEA initiated a subclass of Al-containing refractory (r)HEAs that has recently drawn attention [2]. The alloy has a superalloy-resembling B2/bcc nanostructure, which inspired its name refractory high entropy superalloy (RSA). With high-temperature (HT) compressive strengths beyond conventional Ni-based superalloys, this nanostructure could be used for improved HT structural applications. However, in the application-relevant HT regime the Al-Zr-rich B2 phase decomposes to form a hexagonal Al-Zr-based intermetallic (Al4-xZr5; x: 0..1) [3,4]. This work explores the fascinating yet fatal micromechanisms associated to this phase transformation, in the context of creep, annealing and oxidation experiments performed between 800 and 1200 °C.
The material was produced by arc-melting and heat treatment in argon, which lead to grain boundaries decorated with up to 7%. Interrupted constant-load creep tests were performed under vacuum (at 10-4 Pa), at 900–1100 °C with external tensile stresses of 30–120 MPa. Oxidation experiments were separately conducted for 24 hours at 800 and 1000 °C in both dry (21% O2 + 79% N2) and humid (8% O2 + 74% N2 + 18% H2O) air. After the experiments, the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to reveal degradation mechanisms. Crystallographic texture, orientation relationships and stabilization of an oxygen-containing iso structure (Al4-xZr5(Ox-y); y: 0..x) of the Al-Zr-rich intermetallic are found and discussed.
The current competitive situation on electricity markets forces conventional power plants into cyclic operation regimes with frequent load shifts and starts/shutdowns. In the present work, the cyclic mechanical behavior of ferritic-martensitic 9-12 % Cr steels under isothermal and thermomechanical loading was investigated for the example of grade P92 material. A continuous softening was observed under all loading conditions. The introduction of hold periods to the applied cycles reduced material lifetime, with most prominent effects at technologically relevant small strain levels. The microstructural characterization reveals a coarsening of the original “martensitic” lath-type microstructure to a structure with polygonal subgrains and reduced dislocation density. The microstructural data forms the input for a physically-based modelling approach.
This contribution presents the results of an experimental study on the LCF behavior of an austenitic 316L stainless steel produced by laser powder bed fusion featuring a low defect population, which allows for an improved understanding of the role of other typical aspects of a PBF‑LB microstructure. The LCF tests were performed between room temperature and 600 °C. A hot‑rolled 316L variant was tested as a reference. The mechanical response is characterized by strain-life curves, a Coffin‑Manson‑Basquin fitting, and cyclic deformation curves. The damage and deformation mechanisms are studied with X-ray computed tomography, optical and electron microscopy. The PBF‑LB/M/316L exhibits lower fatigue lives at lower strain amplitudes. The crack propagation is mainly transgranular. The solidification cellular structure seems to be the most relevant underlying microstructural feature determining the cyclic deformation behavior.
Die Untersuchung und Charakterisierung der Entwicklung/Änderung der Mikrostruktur, der mechanischen Eigenschaften sowie der Lebensdauer additiv gefertigter metallischer Werkstoffe hat bisher, vor allem im Hinblick auf die komplexe Belastungsfälle bei sicherheitsrelevanten Anwendungen, mit der rasanten Entwicklung der Fertigungstechniken nicht Schritt gehalten. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde eine Charakterisierung des Ermüdungsverhaltens von additiv gefertigten TiAl6V4 im Low-Cycle-Fatigue Bereich (niederzyklische Ermüdung) nach Norm ISO 12206 mit Dehnungsamplituden von 0.3 bis zu 1.0 % und bei Raumtemperatur, 250°C und 400°C durchgeführt. Die TiAl6V4 Proben wurden aus zylindrischen Halbzeugen gefertigt, welche durch Laser-Pulver-Auftragsschweißen mit einer optimierten Aufbaustrategie hergestellt wurden. Die optimierte Aufbaustrategie beinhaltet variierende Spurüberlappungsgraden, die die Fertigung der dünnen zylindrischen Körper ohne weitere Ausgleichslagen ermöglicht. Das Werkstoffverhalten wird anhand von Wechselverformungskurven sowie einer Darstellung der Lebensdauer in einem Wöhler-Diagramm beschrieben. Ein Fitting der Lebensdauer-Daten erfolgt anhand der Manson-Coffin-Basquin Beziehung. Eine Eingangscharakterisierung der mikrostrukturellen Merkmale inklusive Bindefehler aus dem Herstellungsprozess wird durch Lichtmikroskopie und hochauflösende Computertomographie (CT) durchgeführt. Der Versagensmechanismus während der Belastung wird anhand von Zwischenuntersuchungen mit CT und einem unterbrochenen Versuch mit ausgewählten Versuchsparametern beschrieben. Nach dem Versagen wurden die Proben am REM, mit Lichtmikroskopie und mit CT fraktographisch in Längs- und Querrichtung untersucht. Die erfassten Lebensdauern sind ähnlich zu denen aus herkömmlichen Studien und liegen unter derjenigen von dem konventionell hergestellten (geschmiedeten) Werkstoff. In dieser Arbeit wurden für den untersuchten Werkstoff bei anwendungs- und sicherheitsrelevanten Belastungszuständen (hohe Temperaturen, zyklische Plastizität) neue experimentelle Daten und Kennwerte ermittelt und Verständnis über das mechanische Verhalten und die Entwicklung der Mikrostruktur aufgebaut. Darüber hinaus wurde Verständnis über die Rolle von Bindefehlern und anderen typisch für AM auftretenden Gefügemerkmalen auf das Versagensverhalten von DED-L TiAl6V4 gewonnen.
Despite of the significant advances in AM process optimization there is still a lack of experimental results and understanding regarding the mechanical behavior and microstructural evolution of AMparts, especially in loading conditions typical for safety-relevant applications e.g. in the aerospace or power engineering. Within the scope of the presented investigations, a characterization of the fatigue behavior of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V in the low cycle fatigue regime was carried out in the range of 0.3 to 1.0 % strain amplitude at room temperature, 250°C and 400°C. The Ti-6Al-4V specimens are machined out of lean cylindrical rods, which were fabricated using powder laser metal deposition (LMD) with an improved build-up strategy. The improved strategy incorporates variable track overlap ratios to achieve a constant growth in the shell and core area. The low-cycle-fatigue behavior is described based on cyclic deformation curves and strain-based fatigue life curves. The lifetimes are fitted based on the Manson-Coffin-Basquin relationship. A characterization of the microstructure and the Lack-of-Fusion (LoF)-defect-structure in the as-built state is performed using optical light microscopy and high-resolution computed tomography (CT) respectively. The failure mechanism under loading is described in terms of LoF-defects-evolution and crack growth mechanism based on an interrupted LCF test with selected test parameters. After failure, scanning electron microscopy, digital and optical light microscopy and CT are used to describe the failure mechanisms both in the longitudinal direction and in the cross section of the specimens. The fatigue lives obtained are comparable with results from previous related studies and are shorter than those of traditionally manufactured (wrought) Ti-6Al-4V. In this study new experimental data and understanding of the mechanical behavior under application-relevant loading conditions (high temperature, cyclic plasticity) is gained. Furthermore, a better understanding of the role of LoFdefects and AM-typical microstructural features on the failure mechanism of LMD Ti-6Al-4V is achieved.
Die Untersuchung und Charakterisierung der Entwicklung/Änderung der Mikrostruktur, der mechanischen Eigenschaften sowie der Lebensdauer additiv gefertigter metallischer Werkstoffe hat bisher, vor allem im Hinblick auf die komplexe Belastungsfälle bei sicherheitsrelevanten Anwendungen, mit der rasanten Entwicklung der Fertigungstechniken nicht Schritt gehalten. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde eine Charakterisierung des Ermüdungsverhaltens von additiv gefertigten TiAl6V4 im Low-Cycle-Fatigue Bereich (niederzyklische Ermüdung) nach Norm ISO 12206 mit Dehnungsamplituden von 0.3 bis zu 1.0 % und bei Raumtemperatur, 250°C und 400°C durchgeführt. Die TiAl6V4 Proben wurden aus zylindrischen Halbzeugen gefertigt, welche durch Laser-Pulver-Auftragsschweißen mit einer optimierten Aufbaustrategie hergestellt wurden. Die optimierte Aufbaustrategie beinhaltet variierende Spurüberlappungsgraden, die die Fertigung der dünnen zylindrischen Körper ohne weitere Ausgleichslagen ermöglicht. Das Werkstoffverhalten wird anhand von Wechselverformungskurven sowie einer Darstellung der Lebensdauer in einem Wöhler-Diagramm beschrieben. Ein Fitting der Lebensdauer-Daten erfolgt anhand der Manson-Coffin-Basquin Beziehung. Eine Eingangscharakterisierung der mikrostrukturellen Merkmale inklusive Bindefehler aus dem Herstellungsprozess wird durch Lichtmikroskopie und hochauflösende Computertomographie (CT) durchgeführt. Der Versagensmechanismus während der Belastung wird anhand von Zwischenuntersuchungen mit CT und einem unterbrochenen Versuch mit ausgewählten Versuchsparametern beschrieben. Nach dem Versagen wurden die Proben am REM, mit Lichtmikroskopie und mit CT fraktographisch in Längs- und Querrichtung untersucht. Die erfassten Lebensdauern sind ähnlich zu denen aus herkömmlichen Studien und liegen unter derjenigen von dem konventionell hergestellten (geschmiedeten) Werkstoff. In dieser Arbeit wurden für den untersuchten Werkstoff bei anwendungs- und sicherheitsrelevanten Belastungszuständen (hohe Temperaturen, zyklische Plastizität) neue experimentelle Daten und Kennwerte ermittelt und Verständnis über das mechanische Verhalten und die Entwicklung der Mikrostruktur aufgebaut. Darüber hinaus wurde Verständnis über die Rolle von Bindefehlern und anderen typisch für AM auftretenden Gefügemerkmalen auf das Versagensverhalten von DED-L TiAl6V4 gewonnen.
Despite of the significant advances in additive manufacturing (AM) process optimization there is still a lack of experimental results and understanding regarding the mechanical behavior and its relationship with the microstructural features of AM-parts, especially in loading conditions typical for safety-relevant applications. Within the scope of the presented ongoing investigations, a basic microstructural characterization, tensile tests at room and elevated temperature (400°C) as well as a characterization of the fatigue behavior of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V in the low cycle fatigue regime are carried out in the as-built state. After failure, different techniques are used to describe the failure mechanisms of the specimens. The AM-Specimens are provided by the Fraunhofer institute for production systems and design technology and investigated at the BAM following the philosophy of the TF-Project AGIL.
Towards Interoperability: Digital Representation of a Material Specific Characterization Method
(2022)
Certain metallic materials gain better mechanical properties through controlled heat treatments. For example, in age-hardenable aluminum alloys, the strengthening mechanism is based on the controlled formation of nanometer sized precipitates, which represent obstacles to dislocation movement. Precise tuning of the material structure is critical for optimal mechanical behavior in the application. Therefore, analysis of the microstructure and especially the precipitates is essential to determine the ideal parameters for the interplay of material and heat treatment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is utilized to identify precipitate types and orientations in a first step. Dark-field imaging (DF-TEM) is often used to image the precipitates and to quantify their relevant dimensions.
The present work aims at the digital representation of this material-specific characterization method. Instead of a time-consuming, manual image analysis, an automatable, digital approach is demonstrated. Based on DF-TEM images of different precipitation states of a wrought aluminum alloy, a modularizable digital workflow for quantitative precipitation analysis is presented. The integration of this workflow into a data pipeline concept will also be discussed. Thus, by using ontologies, the raw image data, their respective contextual information, and the resulting output data from the quantitative precipitation analysis can be linked in a triplestore. Publishing the digital workflow and the ontologies will ensure the reproducibility of the data. In addition, the semantic structure enables data sharing and reuse for other applications and purposes, demonstrating interoperability.
The presented work is part of two digitization initiatives, the Platform MaterialDigital (PMD, materialdigital.de) and Materials-open-Laboratory (Mat-o-Lab).
Towards interoperability: Digital representation of a material specific characterization method
(2023)
Certain metallic materials gain better mechanical properties through controlled heat treatments. In age-hardenable aluminum alloys, the strengthening mechanism is based on the controlled formation of nanometer sized precipitates, which hinder dislocation movement. Analysis of the microstructure and especially the precipitates by transmission electron microscopy allows identification of precipitate types and orientations. Dark-field imaging is often used to image the precipitates and quantify their relevant dimensions.
The present work aims at the digital representation of this material-specific characterization method. Instead of a time-consuming, manual image analysis, a digital approach is demonstrated. The integration of an exemplary digital workflow for quantitative precipitation analysis into a data pipeline concept is presented. Here ontologies enable linking of contextual information to the resulting output data in a triplestore. Publishing digital workflow and ontologies ensures the reproducibility of the data. The semantic structure enables data sharing and reuse for other applications and purposes, demonstrating interoperability.
Knowledge representation in the materials science and engineering (MSE) domain is a vast and multi-faceted challenge: Overlap, ambiguity, and inconsistency in terminology are common. Invariant and variant knowledge are difficult to align cross-domain. Generic top-level semantic terminology often is too abstract, while MSE domain terminology often is too specific.
The PMDco is designed in direct support of the FAIR principles to address immediate needs of the global experts community and their requirements. The illustrated findings show how the PMDco bridges semantic gaps between high-level, MSE-specific, and other science domain semantics, how the PMDco lowers development and integration thresholds, and how to fuel it from real-world data sources ranging from manually conducted experiments and simulations as well as continuously automated industrial applications.
This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments and the current status within the Semantic Interoperability work area, with a particular emphasis on the advancements related to the Platform MaterialDigital Core Ontology (PMDco). The presentation will delve into the collaborative and community-supported curation process that has been instrumental in shaping PMDco. Additionally, we will introduce the innovative Ontology Playground, showcasing its role in fostering experimentation and exploration within the realm of ontology development.
The PMD Core Ontology (PMDco) is a comprehensive set of building blocks produced via consensus building. The ontological building blocks provide a framework representing knowledge about fundamental concepts used in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) today. The PMDco is a mid-level ontology that establishes connections between narrower MSE application ontologies and domain neutral concepts used in already established broader (top-level) ontologies. The primary goal of the PMDco design is to enable interoperability between various other MSE-related ontologies and other common ontologies.
PMDco’s class structure is both comprehensive and extensible, rendering it an efficient tool to structure MSE knowledge. The PMDco serves as a semantic middle-layer unifying common MSE concepts via semantic mapping to other semantic representations using well-known key terms used in the MSE domain. The PMDco enables straight-forward documentation and tracking of science data generation and in consequence enables high-quality FAIR data that allows for precise reproducibility of scientific experiments.
The design of PMDco is based on the W3C Provenance Ontology (PROV-O), which provides a standard framework for capturing the production, derivation, and attribution of resources. Via this foundation, the PMDco enables the integration of data from various data origins and the representation of complex workflows.
In summary, the PMDco is a valuable advancement for researchers and practitioners in MSE domains. It provides a common MSE vocabulary to represent and share knowledge, allowing for efficient collaboration and promoting interoperability between diverse domains. Its design allows for the systematic integration of data and metadata, enabling seamless tracing of science data. Overall, the PMDco is a crucial step towards a unified and comprehensive understanding of the MSE domain in general.
Many metallic materials gain better mechanical properties through controlled heat treatments. For example, in age-hardenable aluminium alloys, the strengthening mechanism is based on the controlled formation of nanometre-sized precipitates, which represent obstacles to dislocation movement and consequently increase the strength. Precise tuning of the material microstructure is thus crucial for optimal mechanical behaviour under service condition of a component. Therefore, analysis of the microstructure, especially the precipitates, is essential to determine the optimum parameters for the interplay of material and heat treatment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is utilized to identify precipitate types and orientations in the first step. Dark-field imaging (DF-TEM) is often used to image the precipitates and thereafter quantify their relevant dimensions. Often, these evaluations are still performed by manual image analysis, which is very time-consuming and to some extent also poses reproducibility problems.
Our work aims at a semantic representation of an automatable digital approach for this material specific characterization method under adaption of FAIR data practices. Based on DF-TEM images of different precipitation states of a wrought aluminium alloy, the modularizable, digital workflow of quantitative analysis of precipitate dimensions is described. The integration of this workflow into a data pipeline concept will also be discussed. Using ontologies, the raw image data, their respective contextual information, and the resulting output data of the quantitative image analysis can be linked in a triplestore. Publishing the digital workflow and the ontologies will ensure data reproducibility. In addition, the semantic structure enables data sharing and reuse for other applications and purposes, demonstrating interoperability.