Direct measurement of two-dimensional and three-dimensional interprecipitate distance distributions from atom-probe tomographic reconstructions

Edge-to-edge interprecipitate distance distributions are critical for predicting precipitation strengthening of alloys and other physical phenomena. A method to calculate this three-dimensional distance and the two-dimensional interplanar distance from atom-probe tomographic data is presented. It is applied to nanometer-sized Cu-rich precipitates in an $Fe-1.7at.%$ Cu alloy. Experimental interprecipitate distance distributions are discussed.