Electron Blackscatter Diffraction

Presentation Options – A Variety of Presentation Tools for Optimum Visualization of Results

The analyst often faces the challenge of how to present data in a way that material properties of interest can easily be assessed. The ESPRIT software suite for EBSD offers a number of data representation tools to fulfill that need. The most important options are presented below.

Phase map

All identified phases are displayed in a color-coded phase distribution map.

Pattern quality map

This is an important tool for judging the quality of a measurement, which is influenced by sample properties (e.g. phases, boundaries, lattice strain) and also by sample preparation. The quality at each point of the map is brightness coded to produce a gray scale image of pattern quality.

Pole figure for strong texture gradients (Kurdjumov Sachs orientation relationship)
Pole figure for strong texture gradients (Kurdjumov Sachs orientation relationship)
IPFs for the point group symmetry m-3m for the three reference directions X, Y, Z
IPFs for the point group symmetry m-3m for the three reference directions X, Y, Z

Pole figures

Pole figures are one of the most common representation tools for orientation data. They show the distributions of the selected poles {hkl} considering all orientation measurements. Pole figures provide important information on strength of texture and also on which texture components are dominant. ESPRIT for EBSD generates pole figures in high resolution and with unprecedented speed.

Inverse pole figures (IPF)

While pole figures display crystal orientations with reference to the stage coordinate system, the IPFs describe a chosen stage system axis as a crystallographic vector. Since there are many symmetry-equivalent vectors, the IPFs are reduced to the symmetry-specific sub-spaces (as shown in the figure on the left).

IPF map

The IPF map combines the locally detected orientation with the crystallographic description of a single reference direction. The color coding is scaled to the reduced size of the IPF.

Euler map

An Euler map displays the detected orientation at each point on the basis of the Euler angles which are encoded in RGB.

Detailed crystallographic information is always only a mouse click away

ESPRIT for EBSD screenshot
ESPRIT for EBSD screenshot

ESPRIT for EBSD provides easy access to all data. The analyst can switch between two standard EBSD workspace displays. In acquisition mode it contains the SEM image, the phase list and a large area for maps and point information. A tool for arbitrary scan area selection is provided as well. In postprocessing mode the workspace enables useful interactions between orientation maps and pole figures (see screenshot on right).

Result display for every mapping point

Detailed result information for individual measurements, corresponding to the current mouse cursor position, is given below the mapping. An extra window can be activated simultaneously to show the pattern, if available. A 3D figure of the derived unit cell orientation is displayed in relation to X, Y and Z.

Fast switching between representations

A bar containing miniatures of all available mapping representations can be found below the map window. Clicking on the miniature displays the according map in the large result window.

Similar miniatures can be found beneath the pole figure window, where the user can add self-defined pole figures and IPFs. The tabs contain the information specific to each phase.

All maps and pole figure representations are dynamically refreshed during acquisition. Both maps and pole figures can be displayed in fullscreen mode.

More Information

QUANTAX CrystAlign – Fully-integrated high-speed EBSD analysis system (PDF brochure)