Polygonization and restoration of long-range order on heating a cold-worked iron ?6.5% silicon alloy

Abstract

Rearrangements taking place in the dislocation structure of single crystals of cold-worked (rolled) Fe-6.5% Si alloy (initially ordered in accordance with the DO3 system) on subsequent annealing, accompanied by the restoration of the equilibrium degree of long-range order, are considered on the basis of an electron-microscope examination. The microscopic polygonization processes detected are analogous to those which occur in alloys with low stacking-fault energies. The processes underlying the perfection of the defect structure and the restoration of the long-range order disrupted by plastic deformation have a marked influence on one another.