Quantitative methods for the APT analysis of thermally aged RPV steels

Atom Probe Tomography (APT) is extensively used for the analysis of RPV steels. However, many different analysis methods and cluster search parameters are used, making comparisons between different datasets difficult. Suitable dmax and Nmin parameters for the maximum separation method are investigated. In a randomised distribution of solute there is a finite probability that a group of more than Nmin solute ions exists within the dmax distance. The same is true for experimental datasets from samples which have been thermally aged or irradiated, however these background clusters are not the result of ageing, they are purely statistically random co-incidences. A method is presented for identifying such “background” statistical clusters in real APT data sets, based upon their size and composition, which allows for improved sensitivity to small clusters. ► Selection of cluster search parameters for aged RPV steels. ► Development of a method to identify “statistically random clusters” in APT datasets. ► This method allows a lower Nmin to be used for cluster searches.