Problems in the Calculation of Transformation Texture in Steels

The solid-state decomposition of austenite can lead to a non-random distribution of product crystals. Methods of the quantitative characterisation of this texture are extremely advanced, and there is a deep understanding of the relationship between the texture and macroscopic properties. There remain, however, important barriers to the complete calculation of texture, some of which have not been documented in the published literature. It is the purpose of this review to focus on the difficulties in order to set the scene for further progress. The advent of electron back scatter diffraction has led to an explosion of papers on microscopic aspects of crystal orientations; some of the issues relating to this technique are also described.