Phase decomposition and ordering in Ni-11.3 at.% Ti studied with atom probe tomography

• Former differences in characterizing precipitates in Ni-rich Ni–Ti are resolved.
• The importance of the interface in any compositional evaluation is illustrated.
• A three-phase model is successfully adopted for decomposed states.

The decomposition behavior of Ni-rich Ni–Ti was reassessed using Tomographic Atom Probe (TAP) and Laser Assisted Wide Angle Tomographic Atom Probe. Single crystalline specimens of Ni-11.3 at.% Ti were investigated, the states selected from the decomposition path were the metastable γ″ and γ′ states introduced on the basis of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and the two-phase model for evaluation. The composition values of the precipitates in these states could not be confirmed by APT data as the interface of the ordered precipitates may not be neglected. The present results rather suggest to apply a three-phase model for the interpretation of SANS measurements, in which the width of the interface remains nearly unchanged and the L12 structure close to 3:1 stoichiometry is maintained in the core of the precipitates from the γ″ to the γ′ state.