Papers by Keyword: Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD)

Abstract: Heat-resistant steels of HP series (Fe-25Cr-35Ni) are used as reformer tubes in petrochemical industries. Their composition includes Nb and Ti as strong carbide formers. In the ascast condition, alloys exhibit an austenite matrix with intergranular MC, M23C6 and/or M7C3 eutectic carbides. During exposure at high temperature, phase transformations occur: chromium carbides of M7C3 type transform into the more stable M23C6 type, intragranular M23C6 carbides precipitate, and a silicide, the G-phase (Ni16Nb6Si7), forms due to the instability of MC carbides (NbC). Thermodynamic simulation is of great help for understanding precipitate formation and transformations. Thermo-Calc and Dictra are used to simulate the precipitation of carbides in the austenite matrix during service. However, from an experimental point of view, M23C6 and M7C3 are not easy to distinguish in bulk alloys. Indeed, backscattered scanning electron microscopy does not bring any contrast between the two phases, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis does not lead to carbon content and consequently to the distinction between M23C6 and M7C3. With transmission electron microscopy (TEM), sample preparation is difficult and the observed area is extremely small. In the present work, HP alloys are investigated by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) coupled to EDS. Carbides are identified on the basis of crystal structure, in the bulk, within their microstructural context, and the experimental procedure is both simpler and cheaper than TEM. Precipitates (M23C6, M7C3) could be identified by orientation mapping and single spot analysis.

Abstract: The present work is aimed at linking the microstuctutral features obtained after severe plastic deformation via ECAP to the tensile behavior and thermal stability of pure (99.98%) copper processed by routes A and Bc to different number of passes. The main conclusion one can draw unambiguously from the currently available results is that the strain path exerts relatively little effect on the resultant tensile properties when the number of pressing is sufficiently large, although there have been some marked differences in crystallographic textures and distribution of grain-boundaries. The effect of the number of pressings on the tensile ductility is considerable.

Abstract: The texture and grain boundary evolution during equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) of a spray-cast Al-7034 (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) alloy containing intermetallic particles with a range of sizes was studied through electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Up to 8 passes of ECAP using route Bc were employed. The initial ECAP pass leads to the development of low angle grain boundaries and subsequent passes lead to a relatively rapid increase in the fraction of high angle grain boundaries. Before ECAP, the material possessed a strong <111> and <100> fibre texture. On ECAP, the <111> fibre texture component is mostly retained but the <100> fibre develops to a Cube texture after the first ECAP pass. Goss textures form from about 4 passes of ECAP.

Abstract: Microstructure and texture evolution of pure copper (99.95%) after Equal-Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) and subsequent heat treatment were investigated. Initially the material was subjected up to twelve passes with a 90° die angle using route Bc. This resulted in an equivalent strain of 13.8. After deformation the samples were annealed at different temperatures. The deformed and annealed states were characterized by using the crystallographic texture analysis, EBSD measurements and microhardness tests.

Abstract: The uniformity of grain coarsening throughout the microstructure of a submicron grained particle-containing aluminium alloy has been investigated using high resolution EBSD. The alloy was processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and low temperature ageing to generate ~0.8 􀁐m diameter grain structure containing a relatively uniform dispersion of nanosized Al3Sc particles. While the initial processing route generated a uniform grain size distribution, the distribution of grain orientations was rather inhomogeneous with certain regions of microstructure containing colonies of grains consisting predominantly of either HAGBs or LAGBs. It was found that, despite the difference in grain boundary character between these regions, the fine particles produced by pre-ageing promote uniform coarsening throughout the microstructure despite the marked differences in boundary character between these regions. An analytical model is outlined which predicts the uniformity of grain coarsening in particle-containing alloys despite the presence of orientation gradients in the microstructure.

Abstract: Microstructural feature of the recrystallized Co-based (Co3Ti) and Ni-based (Ni3(Si,Ti) and Ni3Fe) ordered alloys with L12 structure was investigated by the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) method, with emphasis on grain boundary character distribution (GBCD). For comparison, the GBCDs of the recrystallized Co-Ni, Ni-Fe and 70/30 brass disordered alloys, and also copper, nickel and aluminum pure metals with A1 (fcc) structure, which have widely different stacking fault energies, were also determined. The frequency of Σ3 boundary for the Co-based alloys was higher than that for the Ni-based alloys, regardless of ordered L12 alloy or disordered fcc alloy, indicating that the frequency of Σ3 boundary was primarily dominated by stacking fault energy. Furthermore, the effect of ordering energy on structure and energy of the grain boundaries including Σ3 boundary in the ordered L12 alloys was discussed.

Abstract: This paper analyses the application of vanadium microaddition for the production of high strength 16mm diameter wire-rods. Laboratory trials, simulating industrial cooling conditions after hot rolling, were made in a range between 3 and 8°C/s. The results show that introducing vanadium means that it is possible to optimise chemical composition by reducing elements susceptible to segregation. Besides, high strength values are maintained by means of precipitation hardening. The influence of vanadium microalloying on the crystallographic ferrite unit size was also evaluated.

Abstract: The effects of Nb and V on the anisotropy and textures featuring the hot rolled low carbon microalloyed steels produced by A.S.T. (Arvedi Steel Technology) have been studied as a function of the final coiling temperatute Tcoiling. Mechanical properties and r-values for twelve steels have been determined through tensile tests performed on three main different directions: 0°, 45°, 90° to the rolling one. The samples have been analysed by EBSD (Electron Back Scattering Diffraction) to identify the textures developed during the process. The relations among the chemical composition of the steels (i.e. C, N, Nb, V contents), the mechanical properties, the temperature during the coiling operations, the textures and the formability properties have been pointed out.

Abstract: Low carbon steel (usually in sheet form) has found a wide range of applications in industry due to its high formability. The inner and outer panels of a car body are good examples of such an implementation. While low carbon steel has been used in this application for many decades, a reliable predictive capability of the forming process and “springback” has still not been achieved. NIST has been involved in addressing this and other formability problems for several years. In this paper, texture produced by the in-plane straining and its relationship to springback is reported. Low carbon steel sheet was examined in the as-received condition and after balanced biaxial straining to 25%. This was performed using the Marciniak in-plane stretching test. Both experimental measurements and numerical calculations have been utilized to evaluate anisotropy and evolution of the elastic properties during forming. We employ several techniques for elastic property measurements (dynamic mechanical analysis, static four point bending, mechanical resonance frequency measurements), and several calculation schemes (orientation distribution function averaging, finite element analysis) which are based on texture measurements (neutron diffraction, electron back scattering diffraction). The following objectives are pursued: a) To test a range of different experimental techniques for elastic property measurements in sheet metals; b) To validate numerical calculation methods of the elastic properties by experiments; c) To evaluate elastic property changes (and texture development) during biaxial straining. On the basis of the investigation, recommendations are made for the evaluation of elastic properties in textured sheet metal.

Abstract: The article takes into account various factors which effect the texture evolution in the Cu lines. We propose here an explanation for the formation of {111}<110> and {111}<112> texture in the Cu lines. The explicit role of principal stresses, shear stresses and dislocations is discussed. The influence of line spacing on strength of the {111}<110> and {111}<112> texture components is also demonstrated in relation to the dislocation density.