Electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) characterization of warm rolled and accumulative roll bonding (ARB) processed ferrite

An interstitial free (IF) steel was severely deformed using accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process and warm rolling. The maximum equivalent strains for ARB and warm rolling were 4.8 and 4.0, respectively. The microstructure and micro-texture were studied using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy equipped with electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD). The grain size and misorientation obtained by both methods are in the same range. The microstructure in the ARB samples after 6 cycles is homogeneous, although a grain size gradient is observed at the layers close to the surface. The through thickness texture gradient in the ARB samples is different from the warm rolled samples. While a shear texture (⟨110⟩//rolling plane normal direction (ND)) at the surface and rolling texture at the center region is developed in the ARB  samples, the overall texture is weak. The warm rolled samples display a sharp rolling texture through the thickness with increasing the sharpness toward the center. These differences are attributed to the fact that the central region of ARB strip is comprised of material that was once at the surface. The ARB process  can suppress the formation of shear bands which are conventional at warm rolled IF steels. EBSD study on the sample with 6th cycle of ARB following the annealing at 750 ◦C verified a texture gradient through the thickness of the sheet. The shear orientations at the surface and at the quarter thickness layers can be identified even after annealing. The overall weak texture and existence of shear orientations make ARB processed samples unfavorable for sheet metal forming in compare with warm rolled samples.

Grain size measurements in Mg-Al high pressure die castings using electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD)

Optical metallographic techniques for grain-size measurement give unreliable results for high pressure diecast Mg-Al alloys and electron back-scattered diffraction mapping (EBSD) provides a good tool for improving the quality of these measurements. An application of EBSD mapping to this question is described, and data for some castings are presented. Ion-beam milling was needed to prepare suitable samples, and this technique is detailed. As is well-known for high pressure die castings, the grain size distribution comprises at least two populations. The mean grain size of the fine-grained population was similar in both AZ91 and AM60 and in two casting thicknesses (2 mm and 5 mm) and, contrary to previously published reports, it did not vary with depth below the surface.

Substructure development through dynamic recrystallisation in an austenitic Ni–30%Fe alloy

This data looks at the effect of grain boundary movement on the characteristics of substructure development within the DRX regime. Different thermo-mechanical processing routes were employed to produce a range of DRX grain sizes at a given deformation temperature. The development of dislocation substructure was investigated using electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Back-scattered electron imaging for leakage analysis of four retrofilling materials

This study aimed to evaluate, ex vivo, the nanoleakage in dentinal tubules, the linear infiltration of silver nitrate in the dentin wall/root-end filling material interface, and the presence of gaps in this interface in root-end cavities filled with 4 filling materials. Forty-eight disto-buccal root canals of maxillary molars were instrumented and filled. Retrograde cavities were prepared with ultrasonic points (apical 2 mm). The samples were divided into 2 control groups (n = 4) and 4 experimental groups (n = 10): Group I white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA); Group II Super EBA; Group III Portland cement; and Group IV Sealer 26. After 1 week, the specimens were subjected to silver nitrate and prepared for SEM (backscattered electrons). In the apical-apical segment, an area with significantly higher leakage was observed for Super EBA, followed by Portland cement, MTA, and Sealer 26 (P = 0.0054). In the medium and cervical segments, all materials showed the same leakage behavior (P = 0.1815 and P = 0.1723, respectively). The linear infiltration at the dentin wall/root-end filling material interface was higher with Super EBA than the other groups. No differences in the percentage of gaps along the 3 mm of dentin wall/root-end filling material interface between the 4 materials were evident (P > 0.05). Nanoleakage occurred mainly in the apical segment of the samples, and Super EBA showed the highest values. The area and linear leakage were lower in the middle and coronal segments, regardless of the root-end filling material. No material perfectly sealed the root-end cavities, which allowed for the leakage occurrence. Microsc. Res. Tech. 75:796800, 2012. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Observation of kink shear bands in an aluminium single crystal fracture specimen

The near-tip deformation field in a high-constraint three-point bend specimen of pure aluminium single crystal is studied using in situ electron back-scattered diffraction and optical metallography. The orientation considered has the notch lying on the (0 1 0) plane and the notch front along direction. Results clearly show the occurrence of a kink shear sector boundary at 90° to the notch line on the specimen free surface as predicted by the analytical model of Rice [J.R. Rice, Mech. Mater. 6 (1987) 317].

Deformation characterization of superplastic AA7475 alloy

AA7475 alloy was deformed up to 25% elongation in INSTRON at 788K. The grain boundary sliding due to this superplastic deformation was measured by Scanning Electron Microscope. The microstructure and texture development due to this deformation at elevated temperature was analyzed from the Orientation Image Microstructures i.e. the Electron Back Scattered Diffraction Image. The Orientation Image Microstructures revealed that superplastic deformation was associated with recovery and recrystallization in-situ process.

Spatial correlation in grain misorientation distribution

Grain misorientation was studied in relation to the nearest neighbor's mutual distance using electron back-scattered diffraction measurements. The misorientation correlation function was defined as the probability density for the occurrence of a certain misorientation between pairs of grains separated by a certain distance. Scale-invariant spatial correlation between neighbor grains was manifested by a power law dependence of the preferred misorientation vs. inter-granular distance in various materials after diverse strain paths. The obtained negative scaling exponents were in the range of -2 +/- 0.3 for high-angle grain boundaries. The exponent decreased in the presence of low-angle grain boundaries or dynamic recrystallization, indicating faster decay of correlations. The correlations vanished in annealed materials. The results were interpreted in terms of lattice incompatibility and continuity conditions at the interface between neighboring grains. Grain-size effects on texture development, as well as the implications of such spatial correlations on texture modeling, were discussed.

Crack Tip Fields in a Single Edge Notched Aluminum Single Crystal Specimen

We report a combined experimental and computational study of a low constraint aluminum single crystal fracture geometry and investigate the near-tip stress and strain fields. To this end, a single edge notched tensile (SENT) specimen is considered. A notch, with a radius of 50 µm, is taken to lie in the (010) plane and its front is aligned along the [101] direction. Experiments are conducted by subjecting the specimen to tensile loading using a special fixture inside a scanning electron microscope chamber. Both SEM micrographs and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) maps are obtained from the near-tip region. The experiments are complemented by performing 3D and 2D plane strain finite element simulations within a continuum crystal plasticity framework assuming an isotropic hardening response characterized by the Pierce–Asaro–Needleman model. The simulations show a distinct slip band forming at about 55 deg with respect to the notch line corresponding to slip on (11-bar 1)[011] system, which corroborates well with experimental data. Furthermore, two kink bands occur at about 45 deg and 90 deg with respect to the notch line within which large rotations in the crystal orientation take place. These predictions are in good agreement with the EBSD observations. Finally, the near-tip angular variations of the 3D stress and plastic strain fields in the low constraint SENT fracture geometry are examined in detail.

Grain Growth in ECAE Processed Pure Magnesium

Grain growth kinetics was studied for commercially pure magnesium subjected to equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE). The specimens were ECAE processed upto 4 passes at 523 K following all the three important routes, namely A, 13, and C. Texture and microstructures of the samples were studied using Electron Back Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) technique in a Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscope (FEG-SEM). It was observed that the grain size significantly reduces after ECAE. ECAE process produces a slightly rotated B and C-2 fiber. Static annealing leads to normal grain growth with unimodal distribution of grains through out the temperature range. Average activation energy for grain growth in the temperature range studied is found to be less than the activation energy for lattice diffusion and grain boundary diffusion of magnesium. No significant change in texture during isochronal annealing for 1 hour i.e., the predominant deformation texture remains same.

Texture evolution and operative mechanisms during large-strain deformation of nanocrystalline nickel

The large-strain deformation of nanocrystalline nickel was investigated at room temperature and cryogenic (liquid N-2) temperature. Deformation mechanisms ranging from grain boundary sliding to slip, operate due to a wide distribution of grain sizes. These mechanisms leave their finger print in the deformation texture evolution during rolling of nanocrystalline nickel. The occurrence and severance of different mechanisms is understood by a thorough characterization of the deformed samples using X-ray diffraction, X-ray texture measurements, electron back-scattered diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Crystal plasticity-based viscoplastic self-consistent simulations were used to further substantiate the experimental observations. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of deformation behavior of nanocrystalline nickel, which is characterized by simultaneous operation of dislocation-dominated and grain boundary-mediated mechanisms, has been developed.

Texture evolution in commercially pure titanium after warm equal channel angular extrusion

Texture development in commercially pure titanium during equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) through Routes A, Be and C has been studied up to three passes at 400 C. Textures were measured using X-ray diffraction, while the microstructural analyses were performed using electron back-scattered diffraction as well as transmission electron microscopy. Occurrences of dynamic restoration processes (recovery and recrystallization) were clearly noticed at all levels of deformations. Finally, the textures were simulated using a viscoplastic polycrystal self-consistent (VPSC) model. Simulations were performed incorporating basal, prismatic and pyramidal slip systems as well as tensile and compressive twinning. The simulated textures corroborate well with experimental textures in spite of the occurrence of dynamic restoration processes. (C) 2010 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of texture evolution in pure magnesium and the magnesium alloy AM30 during rod and tube extrusion

The evolution of microstructure and texture during extrusion of pure magnesium and its single phase alloy AM30 has been studied experimentally as well as by crystal plasticity simulation. Microstructure and micro-texture were characterized by electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD), bulk-texture was measured using X-ray diffraction and deformation texture simulations were carried out using visco-plastic self consistent (VPSC) model. In spite of clear indications of the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization (DRX), simulations were able to reproduce the experimental textures successfully. This was attributed to the fact that the textures were c-type fibers with their axis of rotation parallel to the c-axis and DRX leads to simply rotate the texture around the c-axis. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.