A multi-scale correlative investigation of ductile fracture
School of Materials, University of Manchester; National Nuclear Laboratory; BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing; Thermo Fischer Scientific
The use of novel multi-scale correlative methods, which involve the coordinated characterization of matter across a range of length scales, are becoming of increasing value to materials scientists. Here, we describe for the first time how a multi-scale correlative approach can be used to investigate the nature of ductile fracture in metals. Specimens of a nuclear pressure vessel steel, SA508 Grade 3, are examined following ductile fracture using medium and high-resolution 3D X-ray computed tomography (CT) analyses, and a site-specific analysis using a dual beam plasma focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (PFIB-SEM).