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Abstract

Quantitative analysis of microstructural features on the nanoscale, including precipitates, local chemical orderings (LCOs) or structural defects (e.g. stacking faults) plays a pivotal role in understanding the mechanical and physical responses of engineering materials. Atom probe tomography (APT), known for its exceptional combination of chemical sensitivity and sub-nanometer resolution, primarily identifies microstructures through compositional segregations. However, this fails when there is no significant segregation, as can be the case for LCOs and stacking faults. Here, we introduce a 3D deep learning approach, AtomNet, designed to process APT point cloud data at the single-atom level for nanoscale microstructure extraction, simultaneously considering compositional and structural information. AtomNet is showcased in segmenting L12-type nanoprecipitates from the matrix in an AlLiMg alloy, irrespective of crystallographic orientations, which outperforms previous methods. AtomNet also allows for 3D imaging of L1₀-type LCOs in an AuCu alloy, a challenging task for conventional analysis due to their small size and subtle compositional differences. Finally, we demonstrate the use of AtomNet for revealing 2D stacking faults in a Co-based superalloy, without any stacking-faults-relevant samples in the training dataset, expanding the capabilities for automated exploration of hidden microstructures in APT data. AtomNet can thus recognize challenging microstructures, including nanoprecipitates with diameters above 2 nm, LCOs with diameters of about 1–2 nm without obvious compositional segregation, and even unforeseen planar defects by analyzing atom-atom environments. AtomNet pushes the boundaries of APT analysis, and holds promise in establishing precise quantitative microstructure-property relationships across a diverse range of metallic materials.