Electron Diffraction Study on Fe–Zn Γ intermetallic Phase of a Galvannealed IF Steel Sheet

Abstract

In order to investigate the structure of Fe–Zn Γ phase in a commercial galvannealed IF steel sheet, the electron diffraction and composition of Γ phase in a commercial galvannealed IF steel sheet were studied by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX). The cross-sectional TEM specimen was prepared using focused ion beam (FIB) technique which was also introduced briefly. The results show that there exist superlattice reflections in the selected area diffraction patterns (SADPs) of Γ phase which indicate that the Γ phase is a kind of ordered intermetallic compound. The results of computer simulation of electron diffraction patterns based on the single crystals X-ray diffraction of previous researchers give a advice to the atomic coordinates of Γ phase in a commercial galvannealed IF steel sheets.