Preferred orientation of rapidly frozen metals

Abstract

When metals are rapidly frozen, a preferred orientation may be observed in the grains of the chilled surface. The extent and stability of this preferred orientation has been examined, using X-ray diffraction, for a variety of metals produced by melt-spinning i.e., by directing a fine stream of liquid against a rapidly rotating copper drum to produce a thin tape. It is shown that metals with a hcp crystal structure tend to display the greatest degree of preferred orientation. In particular, the degree of preferred orientation displayed by as-spun zinc ribbon is such that it could be used as an inexpensive crystal analyser for X-ray diffraction, comparing favourably with quartz.