NEUTRON-DIFFRACTION METHOD FOR STORED ENERGY MEASUREMENT IN INTERSTITIAL-FREE STEEL

Part of the energy acquired by polycrystalline metals during plastic d eformation is stored in the form of dislocations and other crystal def ects. A method is described for the measurement of the orientation dep endence of the stored energy of cold work, using neutron diffraction l ine broadening. To illustrate the method, the measured stored energy v alues for 80% cold rolled interstitial free (IF) steel are compared wi th the stored energy in a stress relieved specimen. The correlation be tween the Taylor factor and the stored energy for an 80% cold rolled s pecimen is discussed. (C) 1997 Acta Metallurgica Inc.