SAECP Combined with Quantitative Image Analysis an Improved Tool for Texture Analysis

A selected area electron channelling pattern (SAECP), which allows the determination of the orientation of individual grains in polished steel specimens, can be obtained with a scanning electron microscope. The different methods to determine the orientation of the grains from the measured pattern are summarized. A minimum grain diameter of about 7μm is required for orientation determination and the maximum error for the determination of (hkl) is about 2°, and about 4° for [uvw]. The total time needed for the determination of the orientation of 400 grains is in the range of 60 hours. Different representations of results are discussed. An example shows that the measurement of single orientations can give more information on the mechanisms of recrystallization than an investigation by x-rays only.