Generation of grain maps by an algebraic reconstruction technique

A reconstruction method is presented for the generation of three-dimensional maps of the grain boundaries within powders or polycrystals. The grains are assumed to have a mosaic spread below 1°. They are mapped layer by layer in a non-destructive way by diffraction with hard X-rays. First the diffraction spots are sorted with respect to grain of origin by the indexing program GRAINDEX. Next for each grain the reconstruction is performed by ART– an iterative algebraic algorithm. The method is optimized by simulations. It is verified by a 50 keV study on one embedded layer in an aluminium specimen. The layer comprises ∼50 grain sections of an average size of 100 µm. Based on the use of five reflections per grain, a resolution of ∼5 µm is inferred.