This study combines tensile testing and electron microscopy to track deformation in steel. High Schmid factor grains drive deformation, observed through SE and EBSD imaging, revealing crystallographic changes and plasticity progression.
Tracking Steel Deformation with Advanced Imaging
Key Takeaways
- Research focus: Correlation of SE and EBSD imaging to study deformation.
- Model system: Steel samples under high-temperature tensile tests.
- Research goal: Identify deformation behavior and track crystallographic changes.
- Content type: White Paper on mechanical characterization techniques.
Tensile testing is essential for the mechanical characterization of metals. Being able to combine mechanical testing with nanoscale imaging modalities offers unique insights into the deformation behavior of engineering materials since the deformation progression can be tracked by direct observation. In this work, field emission scanning electron microscopy is used to perform tensile tests on steel samples at high temperatures while tracking the progression of the deformation using SE (secondary electron) and EBSD (electron backscatter diffraction) imaging. Through correlation of the SE and EBSD data, high Schmid factor grains can be identified as main contributors to the deformation within the microstructure. Their crystallographic orientation changes throughout the deformation progress, which is tracked in EBSD contrast. This is a result of a series of dislocations moving through the grains, each leading to a slight misorientation. This effect can be tracked using the integrated and automated ZEISS In Situ Lab instrument.
