Extraction replica method from thinned transmission electron microscopy samples without floating off carbon films: A case study on reduced activation steel

Journal article

A recipe for producing carbon extraction replicas from twin‐jet electropolished disks is described. This technique allows tracking the analysed region with respect to the bulk sample. An example use of the method as applied to a reduced activation ferritic martensitic (RAFM) steel, ‘UK‐RAFM’, is reported. The RAFM steel described originates from a ∼5 tonne heat produced via electric‐arc furnace (EAF) and was intended to match Eurofer‐97 in chemistry. Here, a detailed analysis of the precipitates within the UK‐RAFM is provided, with particular emphasis to show the variability in chemistry of second‐phase precipitates (SPPs). Comparisons to literature reported compositions of Eurofer‐97 SPPs indicate they are in reasonable agreement; comparisons are also made against thermodynamic models.

Authors: Haley, J; Dickinson‐Lomas, A; Sun, Q; Bowden, D

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Journal of Microscopy
• Article number: jmi.70113
• Publication date: 2026-05-19
• Acceptance date: 2026-04-30
• DOI: 10.1111/jmi.70113
• EISSN: 1365-2818
• ISSN: 0022-2720
• Language: English
• Keywords: steel; precipitates; RAFM; extraction replica; ferritic‐martensitic; TEM