Investigation of texture gradients of semi-finished products by neutrons and photons

Abstract

Texture gradients are present in most samples, which are due to materials processing. Standard methods to evaluate texture gradients are based on the cut of samples, such as the X-ray investigation of surface textures against the texture inside a sheet. Bulk textures itself averaging over the whole sheet thickness are analysed by thermal neutrons. Both thermal neutrons and photons with high energies allow investigations non-destructively. The beam port Stress-Spec at the Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) at Garching/Germany is equipped with a robot system based on a RX160 Stäubli robot, a Laser Tracker and a heavy basement. Samples up to 30kg can be investigated. Main restrictions are the available neutron flux, the detector efficiency and the detector size. Thus, the gauge volume is restricted to 1x1x1mm for ideal scattering conditions to measure in acceptable time scale. Photons with up to 200keV are known as high brilliant and high intense beam with similar penetration power than thermal neutrons. A typical set up of a high energy beamline for texture gradient investigations works without an Eulerian cradle so that restrictions in handling large sample are of less importance. The HZG materials science beamlines at Doris III and Petra III (Harwi-II@DorisIII and HEMS@PetraIII) are equipped with massif units for sample rotation and x-, y- and z- scanning for samples and additional equipments up to 200kg. Compared to thermal neutrons, which work with wavelengths between 1Å-2.5Å, the wavelength of high energy photons is small (0.05Å – 0.20Å). That leads on one hand to low scattering angles (1° - 10°) and on the other hand to an anisotropic ellipsoidal gauge volume. The local resolution of the synchrotron beam is much better than for thermal neutrons. In both methods corrections for constant gauge volume during pole figure scanning and for anisotropic absorption are of great importance.