A critical evaluation was made of the procedures and parameters involved in estimating the stacking-fault energy from X-ray diffraction measurements of deformed materials. Literature data on the Cu-Zn system were carefully analyzed and compared with results obtained by transmission electron microscopy. For deformed filings, the dislocation density, and hence the mean square strain, varied with composition, as did the stacking-fault probability. Since the stacking-fault energy was proportional to the mean square strain, the proportionality constant had to be known in order to obtain the stacking-fault energy. This required a knowledge of the dislocation configuration; mainly in terms of barriers and pile-ups of extended dislocations. Within the limits of uncertainty, an assessment of the proportionality constant could be made so that reasonably good consistency with transmission electron microscopy results was possible. In this way, an estimate (good to ±25%) of 65 to 74mJ/m2 was deduced for the stacking-fault energy of pure copper.

Measurement of Stacking-Fault Energies by X-Ray Diffraction. H.M.Otte: Journal of Applied Physics, 1967, 38[1], 217-22