Application of Neutron Tomography to Non-Destructive Texture Gradient Analysis

Abstract

Most engineering materials are polycrystalline and very often the single crystals that constitute the polycrystalline solid are not randomly oriented. This preferred orientation, or texture, is described quantitatively by the Crystallite Orientation Distribution Function (CODF), which gives the volume fraction of crystals oriented in a specific orientation with respect to the macroscopic coordinate system. Typically, the CODF is expressed as an infinite series of spherical harmonics⁽¹⁾. It has been found that the magnetic⁽²⁾, thermal⁽³⁾, and mechanical⁽⁴⁾ properties of a polycrystalline solid are all related to its texture. Thus, texture can be an important factor in the performance of material in various applications.