Study of the development of the cube texture in Fe-50% Ni during recrystallization and normal grain growth

The development of the cube texture has been investigated in a Fe-50%Ni alloy undergoing recrystallization and normal grain growth by means of orientation imaging microscopy (OIM™)^b and bulk texture measurements (X-ray diffraction). It is shown that both the oriented nucleation and the oriented growth mechanisms are responsible for the strengthening of the cube texture in the early stages of recrystallization in this alloy. The increase in the cube texture in the intermediate stages of recrystallization is mainly related to the high differentials in stored energy associated with cube grains. These experimental results are corroborated by way of a Monte-Carlo simulation of recrystallization based on data derived by OIM of the investigated alloy at its earliest recrystallization stages. The primary mechanism responsible for the development of the cube texture during grain growth relies on the preferential migration of the high-angle grain boundaries linked to cube grains which results from the advantage in number and size shown by cube grains when recrystallization is complete.