A comparison between different X-ray diffraction line broadening analysis methods for nanocrystalline ball-milled FCC powders

The microstructural characteristics of aluminum, copper and nickel powders are investigated using different X-ray diffraction line broadening analysis approaches. Prior to analysis, the powders were ball-milled to produce a nanocrystalline structure with high density of probable types of lattice defects. A variety of methods, including Scherrer, Williamson-Smallman, Williamson-Hall, Warren-Averbach, modified Williamson-Hall, modified Warren-Averbach, Rietveld refinement and whole powder pattern modeling (WPPM) approaches are applied. In this way, microstructural characteristics such as crystallite size, microstrain, dislocation density, effective outer cut-off radius of dislocations and the probability of twining and stacking faults are calculated. On the other hand, the results of conventional and advanced line broadening analysis methods are compared. It is revealed that the density of linear and planar defects in the mechanically deformed aluminum powder is significantly smaller than that of copper and nickel, as well as the level of anisotropic strain broadening. Moreover, the WPPM procedure provided a better profile fitting with more accurate results. (orig.)