Various techniques of X-ray diffraction line profile analysis were used to study the microstructures of heavily deformed solid polycrystalline Zircaloy-2 and Zr-2.5%Nb. The domain size, micro-strain within the domain, dislocation density and stacking-fault probabilities were estimated by using the simplified breadth method, Williamson–Hall technique and the modified Rietveld Method. Clear signs of anisotropy in the domain shape were revealed. The domain size along the various crystallographic directions was quantified. In the deformed alloys, the dislocation density, ρ, was of the order of 1015/m2 but the stacking-fault probabilities were almost negligible. An empirical relationship was established for the first time between domain size and ρ-½ for these hexagonal close-packed alloys.

Deformation Characteristics of Rolled Zirconium Alloys - a Study by X-Ray Diffraction Line Profile Analysis. P.Mukherjee, A.Sarkar, P.Barat, S.K.Bandyopadhyay, P.Sen, S.K.Chattopadhyay, P.Chatterjee, S.K.Chatterjee, M.K.Mitra: Acta Materialia, 2004, 52[19], 5687-96