EBSD-based techniques for characterization of microstructural restoration processes during annealing of metals deformed to large plastic strains

Some methods for quantitative characterization of the microstructures deformed to large plastic strains both before and after annealing are discussed and illustrated using examples of samples after equal channel angular extrusion and cold-rolling. It is emphasized that the microstructures in such deformed samples exhibit a heterogeneity in the microstructural refinement by high angle boundaries. Based on this, a new parameter describing the fraction of regions containing predominantly low angle boundaries is introduced. This parameter has some advantages over the simpler high angle boundary fraction parameter, in particular with regard to data collected from electron-backscatter diffraction investigations, where boundaries with very low misorientation angles cannot be reliably detected. It is shown how this parameter can be related to the recrystallization behavior. Another parameter, based on mode of the distribution of dislocation cell sizes is outlined, and it is demonstrated how this parameter can be used to investigate the uniformity, or otherwise, of the restoration processes occurring during annealing of metals deformed to large plastic strains. © (2012) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.