Dtl. Van Agterveld et al., Magnesium surface segregation and oxidation in Al-Mg alloys studied with local probe scanning Auger-scanning electron microscopy, APPL SURF S, 152(3-4), 1999, pp. 250-258
Magnesium surface segregation and oxidation were investigated in Al-Mg allo
ys with a surface texture characterized by branched and dendritic disordere
d features of low Mg concentration having a lateral 2-D fractal dimension D
-B approximate to 1.77. Phase separation of areas with high (similar to 38%
at.) and low (similar to 14% at.) Mg content allows direct observation of
distinct differences in Mg surface segregation and oxidation across disorde
red phase boundaries. Nanometer scale lateral observation of these phenomen
a is feasible due to the nanometer spot size ( similar to 15-20 nm) of the
electron beam. Preferential surface oxidation, which is manifest even up to
temperatures close to the melting point of Al and Mg, is shown to be stron
gly correlated laterally with the Mg content. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V
. All rights reserved.