Microstructure Characterization in Individual Texture Components by X-Ray Line Profile Analysis: Principles of the X-TEX Method and Practical Application to Tensile-Deformed Textured Ti

Abstract

A novel X-ray diffraction-based method and computer program X-TEX has been developed to determine the microstructure in individual texture components of polycrystalline, textured materials. Two different approaches are presented. In the first one, based on the texture of the specimen, the X-TEX software provides optimized specimen orientations for X-ray diffraction experiments in which diffraction peaks consist of intensity contributions stemming from grain populations of separate texture components in the specimen. Texture-specific diffraction patterns can be created by putting such peaks together from different measurements into an artificial pattern for each texture component. In the second one, the X-TEX software can determine the intensity contributions of different texture components to diffraction peaks measured in a particular sample orientation. According to this, peaks belonging mainly to one of the present texture components are identified and grouped into the same quasi-phase during the evaluation procedure. The X-TEX method was applied and tested on tensile-deformed, textured, commercially pure titanium samples. The patterns were evaluated by the convolutional multiple whole profile (CMWP) procedure of line profile analysis for dislocation densities, dipole character, slip systems and subgrain size for three different texture components of the Ti specimens. Significant differences were found in the microstructure evolution in the two major and the random texture components. The dislocation densities were discussed by the Taylor model of work hardening.