Evolution of crystallographic texture and strain in a fine-grained Ni3Al (Zr, B) intermetallic alloy during cold rolling

In this paper, we investigate the structural evolution of a fine-grained Ni3Al (Zr, B) intermetallic-based alloy during cold rolling. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission gun (FEG) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used with an electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) system to analyse changes in the ordering, microstructure, microtexture and lattice strain during plastic deformation of the investigated alloy. The results showed that the Ni3Al (Zr, B) intermetallic-based alloy underwent extensive microstructural and ordering changes upon plastic deformation. This transformation was facilitated by a change in the rolling texture from that of a pure metal to that of an alloy. This textural transition could be attributed to the localisation of the plastic deformation in the form of intense shearing. The occurrence of mechanical twinning was not directly confirmed by the experimental results; therefore, the reordering transition could also have affected the occurrence of the shear banding. The lattice strain was also analysed using the EBSD method (using local misorientation or pattern quality approaches) and microhardness measurements, which showed that the observed structural transformation was also facilitated by an accommodation process that produced a partial release of stored energy.