Grain boundary statistics in nano-structured iron produced by high pressure torsion

The microstructure and the spectrum of grain boundary misorientations were studied in Armco iron, following high pressure torsion (HPT) deformation, by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and orientation imaging microscopy (OIM). It was found that HPT deformation results in the formation of an equiaxed grain structure with a mean grain size of 270 and 130 nm using a shear strain of γ = 210 and 420, respectively. The misorientation spectra in HPT iron have a bimodal character with maxima in low (at 1–2°) as well as in high misorientation angle ranges. A marked increase in the fraction of special boundaries (Σ3–Σ45) was revealed as a result of HPT. The microstructural changes due to HPT are discussed and compared with those obtained during conventional deformation modes.