Grain interaction effects in polycrystalline Cu

Crystal orientation maps for a grain in a deformed Cu polycrystal have been analysed with the goal of understanding the effect of grain interactions on orientation subdivision. The polycrystal was incrementally strained in tension to 5, 8, 15 and 25% extension; a crystal orientation map was measured after each strain increment.

The measurements are represented as rotations from the initial crystal orientation. A coarse domain structure forms in the initial 5% strain increment and persists at higher strains. Crystal rotations for all coarse domains in the grain are consistent with the full range of Tailor solutions for axisymmetric strain; grain interactions are not required to account for the coarse domain structure.

Special orientation domains extend 20-100 µm into the grain at various locations around its periphery. The special orientation domain morphologies include layers along boundary segments, lobes that may be further subdivided, and plates. Detailed analysis of the crystal rotations in the special domains provides strong evidence that they result from grain interactions.