Restoration of the orientation distribution function for materials with low lattice and sample symmetry using the harmonic method

A lot of the properties polycrystalline materials depend on their crystallographic texture. The most complete information about the texture can be obtained from the orientation distribution function (ODF). We present the results of recovering ODF using series expansion technique for materials with low crystal and sample symmetry. The technique of ODF restoration is based on its Fourier series expansion with symmetrical spherical harmonic functions. Real spherical harmonics which are linear combinations of general spherical harmonics were used. The model single-component texture as well as the real texture of magnesium alloy sample subjected to equal-channel angular pressing have been studied. Textures are characterized by hexagonal crystal symmetry and triclinic sample symmetry. In both cases RP-factors and ODF calculation errors that were used as reliability criteria of ODF reconstruction showed good agreement between the calculated and experimental data. It was also revealed that the ODF of a magnesium alloy sample subjected to equal-channel angular pressing contains two texture components (1216)[1211] and (1216)[1211] with maximum intensity values of 13.81 and 2.23, respectively. The results obtained can be used for texture studies of ceramics, rocks and other non-metallic materials characterized by a lower symmetry.