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 μm was studied with a 7 μm full width at half-maximum monochromatic synchrotron-radiation X-ray beam in transmission geometry at 13.1 keV. For nickel contents from 60 to 90 at.%, the face-centred-cubic γ 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 rod-like samples could be correlated with morphological changes. The experiments document that synchrotron radiation can be used for quantitative texture characterization on very small volumes.