Bulk texture evaluation using iMATERIA time-of-flight neutron diffraction

Xu, P. G.   ; Hoshikawa, Akinori*; Ishigaki, Toru*; Suzuki, Tetsuya*; Akita, Koichi; Morii, Yukio*; Hayashi, Makoto*; Lutterotti, L.*

For most metallic materials, in order to realize good balance among strength, ductility, toughness and formability, it is very important to optimize their microstructures and crystallographic textures as well as their alloy compositions. The time-of-flight neutron diffraction enables to measure various whole diffraction patterns of a textured material simultaneously at different scattering angles using different neutron detectors. In this presentation, the current status and its prospect of bulk texture evaluation technique using iMATERIA time-of-flight neutron diffractometer will be reported, including Omega-axis rotatable sample exchanger for rapid measurements and Omega/Kai 2-axes rotatable goniometer for in situ texture evolution studies. Moreover, the Rietveld texture analysis technique implemented in MAUD (Materials Analysis Using Diffraction) has been employed here to overcome the beam shielding effect of environmental equipment on texture measurement.