TEXTURE MEASUREMENT ON MATERIALS CONTAINING PLATELETS USING STEREOLOGY

A method for determining three-dimensional (3-D) orientation distribut ions of platelike grains or inclusions using stereology is described. The method involves relating an orientation distribution of platelet c ross-section normals taken from a plane of polish, with a correspondin g orientation distribution of platelet normals in 3-D. In this investi gation, SiC platelet orientation distributions were measured in Al2O3- SiC, and Cu-SiC composites by both stereological analysis and X-ray di ffraction. The stereological measurements yielded two-dimensional (2-D ) platelet cross-section normal orientation distributions, and the X-r ay diffraction measurements yielded 3-D platelet normal orientation di stributions (in the form of pole figures). The calculation described i n this paper correlates 2-D and 3-D platelet normal distributions. To experimentally substantiate the calculation, a comparison between meas ured and calculated distributions is presented. Good agreement between calculation and measurement is shown, thereby confirming this analysi s as a viable technique for orientation measurements.