Nondestructive determination of materials parameters by neutron diffraction

Using the high transmission of neutron radiation, neutron diffraction is described to be an efficient tool for the analysis of various materials parameters of the bulk of a material in a nondestructive way. Sample sizes up to 40 mm in diameter have been used to determine the phase composition, texture and internal stresses of polycrystalline, polyphased materials. Additionally to well-known X-ray techniques which analyse the surface of a sample, neutron diffraction measurements are carried out to investigate the average behaviour of a bulk sample or the local behaviour within a compact sample. Further advantages of neutron diffraction are that small volume fractions (e.g. 0.05 Vol.% Cu in Al) can be determined. Moreover, in the case of X-ray diffraction the examination of coarse-grained materials and of complex multiphase materials is limited, and neutron diffraction has to be used. (orig./RHM)