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A Cerezo

Publications and source records attributed to A Cerezo.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Field ion microscopy and 3-D atom probe analysis of Al3Zr particles in 7050 Al alloy.

Field ion microscope images have been used to measure the local evaporation field of a Al3Zr particle in 7050 Al alloy. Using the matrix Al evaporation field (19 V/nm) as a reference, the evaporation field of Al3Zr has been estimated to be 36 V/nm, similar to the theoretical value for the field evaporation of Al2+ or Zr3+ ions. A strong local magnification effect from the large difference in evaporation fields between the particle and matrix has been found to cause a severe distortion of the apparent particle morphology in a three-dimensional atom probe reconstruction when using parameters based on the Al matrix. Use of the measured evaporation field for Al3Zr has allowed accurate reconstruction of the morphology of the particle. A simple worst-case analysis predicts that trajectory overlaps increase with increasing cross-section of particle, and the calculated overlaps agree well with experimental estimates of approximately 1.4-2.0 nm for variations in the particle cross-section from 7 to 12 nm. The chemical composition of Al3Zr in a 7050 Al alloy has been measured to be 64.8-67.7 at% Al, 23.6-24.8 at% Zr, 6.9-9.1 at% Zn, 0.4-0.7 at% Cu, 0.5-1.2 at% Mg, with a (Al+Zn)/Zr ratio close to 3. Specimen analysis temperatures of either 25 or 80 K show little effect on the measured chemical compositions of the particle.

Alloys↗
PubMed2004

Modeling image distortions in 3DAP.

A numerical model has been developed to simulate images obtained from the three-dimensional atom probe. This model was used to simulate the artefacts commonly observed in two-phase materials. This model takes into account the dynamic evolution of the atomic-scale shape of the specimen during field evaporation. This article reviews the model and its applications to some specific cases. Local magnification effects were studied as a function of the size, the shape, and the orientation of precipitated phases embedded in the matrix. Small precipitates produce large aberrations in good agreement with experiments. The magnification from such precipitates, as measured from the simulation, is only found to match the theoretical value for mesoscopic scale precipitates (size similar to the specimen size). Orientation effects are also observed in excellent agreement with experiments. The measured thickness of a grain-boundary-segregated film in the simulation is found to decrease with the angle between the normal to the grain boundary and the tip axis. Depth scaling artefacts caused by variation in the evaporation field of atoms in multilayer structures were successfully simulated and again showed good agreement with effects observed experimentally.

Alloys↗
PubMed2004

The role of atomic scale investigation in the development of nanoscale materials for information storage applications.

It is well established that the response of devices based on the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect depends critically on film microstructure, with parameters such as interfacial abruptness, the roughness and waviness of the layers, and grain size being crucial. Such devices have applications in information storage systems, and are therefore of great technological interest as well as being of fundamental scientific interest. The layers must be studied at high spatial resolution if the microstructural parameters are to be characterized with sufficient detail to enable the effects of fabrication conditions on properties to be understood, and the techniques of high resolution electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy chemical mapping, and atom probe microanalysis are ideally suited. This article describes the application of these techniques to a range of materials including spin valves, spin tunnel junctions, and GMR multilayers.

Alloys↗
PubMed2003

Combined atomic-scale modelling and experimental studies of nucleation in the solid state.

The process of solid-state nucleation in highly supersaturated solid solutions has been investigated on the atomic scale by a combination of three-dimensional atom probe analysis and atomistic modelling using dynamical Ising models. In binary Cu-Co alloys, a simple atom-exchange model with a single thermodynamic parameter derived from phase-diagram data was able to reproduce the atomic-scale microstructures observed in the atom probe, and also match the measured peak precipitate density. Modelling solute effects in complex copper-bearing steels required a more sophisticated model based on a vacancy-hopping mechanism and a larger number of thermodynamic and kinetic parameters derived from independent experimental data and theoretical calculations. The model gave an excellent match to the experimentally observed microstructures, and it reproduced features such as the clustering of Ni and Mn before the precipitation of Cu. The model also allowed time-dependent behaviour to be investigated, and it showed that solute clustering of Ni and Mn occurs during the cooling of the alloy. These clusters then act as heterogeneous nucleation sites for the formation of copper precipitates. Understanding such complex solute interaction effects through combined experiment and modelling is an essential step to controlling nucleation and hence the fine-scale microstructures in advanced engineering alloys.

Alloys↗
PubMed2001

Measurements of field enhancement introduced by a local electrode.

Direct measurements of field enhancement introduced by a local electrode have been carried out on a scanning atom probe (SAP). The results show that an enhancement factor of more than 2 can be obtained simply by reducing the specimen-to-electrode distance from 1.5 mm to 10 microm. Further enhancement can be achieved if the electrode has a smaller aperture. This suggests that a specimen with tip radius of approximately 200 nm, which usually is too blunt to be analysed in a standard atom probe, could now be analysed by SAP. The capability of analysing blunt tips will expand the applicability of SAP to a much broader range of materials.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Numerical modelling of mass resolution in a scanning atom probe.

We have recently suggested a novel method for improving mass resolution in the scanning atom probe (SAP), based on a post-deceleration scheme. A two-conductor counter electrode is used, and the high voltage pulse is applied to the front conductor, with the rear conductor being held at ground. For a separation between the two conductors of 100 microm or less, ions travel between the two while the pulse is essentially constant, so that the ion leaves the counter electrode with an energy equivalent to the applied d.c. potential. In this paper, we have used a numerical model for the electric fields in the SAP to verify the results of the simpler analytical approach used earlier. In particular, the ion acceleration in the vicinity of the tip, previously assumed to be instantaneous, was modelled using a hyperboloidal field approximation. The numerical model was used to calculate the flight time for ions having a range of masses and evaporating over a range of times at the peak of a high voltage pulse. Modelled mass resolutions, calculated in this way, were then compared with analytical expressions, and were found to agree very well. This shows that the earlier assumption of an instantaneous acceleration did not seriously affect the validity of the approach.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

IL-2 deprivation triggers apoptosis which is mediated by c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 activation and prevented by Bcl-2.

A variety of environmental stresses, as well as inflammatory cytokines, induce activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases. We describe here that IL-2 deprivation-induced apoptosis in TS1alphabeta cells does not modify c-Jun protein levels and correlates Bcl-2 downregulation and an increase in JNK1, but not JNK2, activity directly related to the induction of apoptosis. Indeed, downregulation of JNK1 expression using antisense oligonucleotides inhibits apoptosis induced by IL-2 withdrawal. Overexpression of Bcl-2 promotes cell survival and blocks JNK1 activation as well as apoptosis caused by IL-2 deprivation. This suggests that inhibition of the JNK1 signaling pathway may be a mechanism through which Bcl-2 promotes cell survival and prevents apoptosis triggered by growth factor withdrawal.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Role of Akt and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2 in apoptosis induced by interleukin-4 deprivation.

We have shown previously that interleukin-4 (IL-4) protects TS1alphabeta cells from apoptosis, but very little is known about the mechanism by which IL-4 exerts this effect. We found that Akt activity, which is dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, is reduced in IL-4-deprived TS1alphabeta cells. Overexpression of wild-type Akt or a constitutively active Akt mutant protects cells from IL-4 deprivation-induced apoptosis. Readdition of IL-4 before the commitment point is able to restore Akt activity. We also show expression and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2 activation after IL-4 deprivation. Overexpression of the constitutively activated Akt mutant in IL-4-deprived cells correlates with inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2 activity. Finally, TS1alphabeta survival is independent of Bcl-2, Bcl-x, or Bax.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Rectal bioavailability of water-soluble drugs: sodium valproate.

The influence of adjuvants in suppository formulations on the release and absorption of sodium valproate, a water soluble anti-epileptic, was analysed in order to determine the optimal formula for rectal administration. Three formulations were prepared with Suppocire AS2(formula I), Aerosil R 972 (formula II) or Span 80 (formula III). In-vivo and in-vitro release-diffusion studies were performed using white laboratory rabbits as the experimental model. The adjuvants decreased the percentage release of valproic acid to 96.7% (formula I) and 84.1% (formula II), and delayed peak release-diffusion concentration (210 and 150 min, respectively, with formulas II and III in comparison with 120 min with formula I). Their effect on bioavailability was observed as an increase in plasma levels of the active substance, with areas under the plasma concentration/time curve of 396.26 and 306.64 micrograms h mL-1 (formulas II and III, respectively) and 243.28 micrograms h mL-1 (formula I). The time to peak plasma concentration was also delayed with peaks at 30, 55 and 50 min with formulas I, II and III, respectively.

Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A procedure for quantification of precipitate microstructures from three-dimensional atom probe data.

New analysis software for selecting and quantifying particles in three-dimensional atom maps has been designed. The selection of solute-rich regions is performed by connecting solute atoms which lie within a fixed distance (d), and taking clusters above a certain minimum number of solute atoms (N(min)). Other atoms within some distance L greater than d are taken to belong to the cluster. However, this results in the inclusion of a shell of matrix atoms, which must be removed through an erosion step, to define the final cluster. Data filtered in this way can be used for subsequent quantification of parameters such as size, shape, composition, number density and volume fraction with better accuracy than by manual selection. The choice of d, N(min) and L values is discussed and some methods of evaluation of these parameters are proposed. Examples are presented on the application of this new software to the analysis of early stage clustering in an Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy and a copper-containing steel.

Journal Article↗