Microtexture analysis by synchrotron-radiation X-ray diffraction of nickel-iron alloys prepared by microelectroplating

Local texture in rod- and plate-like Ni-Fe alloys - prepared by electroforming techniques - with largest dimensions of up to several 100 mu m was studied with a 7 mu m full width at half-maximum monochromatic synchrotron-radiation X-ray beam in transmission geometry at 13.1 keV. For nickel contents from 60 to 90at.%, the face-centred-cubic gamma phase was observed. The samples showed in general a combination of [111]- and [100]-fibres close to the growth direction but a very broad distribution. A loss in texture at the base of rodlike samples could be correlated with morphological changes. The experiments document that synchrotron radiation can be used for quantitative texture characterization on very small volumes.