3D-Microstructural and texture characterization in different length scales

The application limits, advantages and disadvantages of two 3D EBSD techniques are compared and discussed in this work. The results obtained by the FEI dual beam FIB-SEM NO-VA600 system with an attachment for automated EBSD data collection are compared with the results obtained by a conventional serial sectioning technique by exactly controlled mechanical polishing. Both procedures were used for microstructural and microtextural characterization of three different types of material: fine grained X70 pipeline steel (d(av)similar to 2 mu m), coarse grained Ti-Al alloy (d(av)similar to 120 mu m) and an IF steel with an average grain size of similar to 25 mu m. Various features like the grain shape directionality in pipeline steel, second phase in the grain boundary in the Ti alloy and the deformation zones around Ti(C,N) particles in IF steel were described qualitatively and (semi) quantitatively. The quantitative 3D results for grain size in the pipeline steel are compared to the ones obtained by classical 2-D characterization of the same specimens and some restrictions for the optimum use of the techniques are outlined.