Micromechanics of eutectic structures via dark-field x-ray imaging

Eutectic microstructures form a consituent of many important metal alloys. Mechanical, chemical and thermal modification during materials processing often seeks to change the structure to obtain desired properties. Observing directly the micromechanics of residual strain localization and the orientation relationships within 3-d structure of such materials as Al-Si and Al-Cu alloys formed under a range of conditions will aid the understanding of the fundamental nature of these structures. Dark field x-ray microscopy has the potential to observe these features without unreasonable thinning or sectioning that woudl alter the features to be observed.