Application of a Tilting and Rotating Specimen Stage to X-Ray Retained Austenite Measurement in Textured and Coarse Grained, Steels

An x-ray diffraction technique involving the use of a tilting and rotating (TR) stage has been used to determine retained austenite (RA) in several isotropic as well as variously textured specimens. The results obtained using the TR stage have been compared with the RA values obtained on the same specimens using the conventional (stationary specimen stage) two or three peak x-ray diffraction techniques. The results indicate that the TR method yields accurate retained austenite values for both isotropic and textured specimens. The conventional method produces accurate results for isotropic specimens only and leads to serious errors when strong texture or coarse grain size is present in the specimen.