Resources for aerospace and defense materials analysis and characterization

These resources, including application notes, videos, webinars, and demonstrations, highlight real-world use cases across aerospace engineering, manufacturing, qualification, and MRO.


Featured resource

eBook: Advancing aerospace and defense engineering with electron microscopy

This comprehensive eBook explores how advanced electron microscopy and surface analysis techniques support innovation, qualification, and long-term reliability across aerospace and defense programs. It covers the full supply chain—from raw material development to in-service performance—highlighting real-world use cases involving advanced alloys, composites, coatings, additive manufacturing, batteries, and fuel cell technologies. Through practical examples, the eBook demonstrates how multi-technique workflows combining SEM, TEM, XPS, and FIB enable deeper insight into microstructure, surface chemistry, and failure mechanisms, supporting certification, compliance, and mission readiness in demanding aerospace and defense environments.


Case studies

Shielding titanium: The quest for high-temperature resilience

This case study explores strategies for improving the high-temperature performance of titanium alloys used in aerospace and defense applications. It highlights how surface treatments and coatings are evaluated using electron microscopy and surface analysis techniques to understand oxidation behavior, coating integrity, and degradation mechanisms. The study supports the development of titanium-based solutions capable of operating reliably in extreme thermal environments while maintaining lightweight performance.

 


Application notes

Laser PFIB for large-volume 3D EBSD: A correlative microscopy perspective

This application note demonstrates how plasma FIB enables high-speed serial sectioning and large-volume 3D EBSD analysis for aerospace materials. By combining rapid material removal with crystallographic mapping, the workflow reveals three-dimensional grain structures, orientations, and phase distributions that are not accessible with conventional 2D techniques. The approach supports fatigue analysis, damage initiation studies, and qualification of complex aerospace alloys where statistically meaningful, volumetric microstructural data is required.

Novel analysis of single-crystal René N5 superalloy

This application note presents an in-depth microstructural and chemical analysis of the single-crystal nickel-based superalloy René N5, which is widely used in aerospace turbine components. Using SEM, EDS, and advanced particle and phase analysis, the study investigates corrosion behavior, carbide formation, and defect populations after high-temperature exposure. The results provide valuable insight into degradation mechanisms, supporting improved alloy design, life prediction, and performance optimization under extreme operating conditions.

Analysis of particles, precipitates, and inclusions

This application note explains how to analyze particles, precipitates, and inclusions in metals and alloys using Thermo Scientific Avizo Software. It describes a workflow that combines image enhancement, segmentation, and automated analysis—including deep learning—to quantify features such as size, shape, and distribution. By automating previously manual steps, the approach enables faster, more consistent characterization across 2D and 3D datasets, helping increase productivity and reproducibility in materials development.

Microstructural and chemical evaluation of thermally cycled thermal barrier coating systems

This application note examines how thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) used in aerospace engines degrade under repeated thermal cycling. It presents an integrated workflow combining automated polishing, SEM imaging, elemental analysis, and data-driven evaluation to characterize coating microstructure, composition, and damage over large areas. The study demonstrates how advanced microscopy improves confidence in coating performance, accelerates materials optimization, and supports the qualification of protective systems operating in extreme temperature environments.

Aerospace aluminum alloy 2099 friction stir weld analysis

This application note focuses on the challenges of joining advanced aluminum alloys using friction stir welding in aerospace structures. It shows how SEM, EBSD, TEM, and EDS are combined to analyze grain structure evolution, precipitate behavior, and mechanical property changes across the weld zone and heat-affected regions. The results provide critical insight into structure–property relationships, supporting optimization of welding parameters and post-weld heat treatments to ensure structural integrity and long-term reliability.


White papers

Recycled composite polymer behavior analysis

This white paper presents a collaborative study between Thermo Fisher Scientific, Ansys, Waygate Technologies, 3Dmagination, and the Institute for Polymer Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. The study focuses on the experimental and numerical characterization of recycled short carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 11 (rCF-PA11) composites fabricated by 3D printing. These 3D printed samples were characterized by computed tomography and associated 3D image analysis software.


Videos

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.