In-Situ Scanning Electron Microscopy/Electron Backscattered Diffraction Observation of Microstructural Evolution during α → γ Phase Transformation in Deformed Fe-Ni Alloy

This article presents in-situ observation of ferrite (α)/austenite (γ) phase transformation in an Fe-8.5 at. pct Ni alloy deformed by rolling using an automated scanning electron microscopy/energy backscattered diffraction (SEM/EBSD) system. During heating, recrystallization in α phase and α → γ phase transformation independently occurred. The γ grains nucleated in unrecrystallized α grains were most probably incorporated into the grain interior of recrystallized α grains. They did not have any specific orientation relation (OR) with recrystallized α grains and grew in an isotropic manner. On the other hand, the intragranular γ grains nucleated in recrystallized α grains had a Kurdjumov–Sachs (K-S) OR with the α grains and grew in a considerably anisotropic manner. They preferentially grew along the common direction of surface traces of {110}α/{111}γ. Approximately half of grain boundary (GB) allotriomorphs had either the K-S OR or the Nishiyama–Wasserman (N-W) OR with the parent α grains. The γ allotriomorphs predominantly grew into the α grain having the special OR with themselves. The GB character distribution of γ phase at high temperatures was measured. The fraction of CSL boundaries was as high as 63 pct, particularly that of Σ3 grain boundaries (GBs) was 54 pct.