AutomAl 6000

AutomAl 6000 analyzes precipitates in Al-Mg-Si(-Cu) alloys from atomic-resolution HAADF-STEM images to identify column species and determine three-dimensional column positions for characterization of precipitate structures formed during age hardening.

Key Features:

• Column Characterization Algorithm: Integrates a statistical model with structural principles in a digraph-like framework to identify column species and analyze precipitate structure.
• 3D Column Positioning: Semi-autonomously determines three-dimensional positions and relative longitudinal displacements of atomic columns from HAADF-STEM cross-sections.
• Structure Data Analysis and Export: Extracts, analyzes, and exports structural data derived from precipitate (100) cross-sections for downstream analysis.

Scientific Applications:

• Age-hardening studies: Elucidates how precipitates nucleate as a function of composition and thermomechanical treatment in age-hardened Al-Mg-Si(-Cu) alloys.
• Metastable precipitate characterization: Characterizes generalized structures of metastable precipitates composed of stacks of <100> columns with solute elements substituting most columns.
• Cross-study HAADF-STEM analysis: Applied to atomic-resolution HAADF-STEM images from three different studies within the Al-Mg-Si(-Cu) system to compare precipitate structures across samples.

Methodology:

Combines a statistical model and structural principles expressed in a digraph-like framework that relates columns to their neighbors via simple structural rules to identify species and relative longitudinal displacement over the (100) cross-section.