Effect of plastic deformation on the Σ2 grain boundary plane distribution in WC-Co cemented carbides

Grain boundary plane distributions have been measured for Sigma 2 grain boundaries (boundaries that have a 90 degree rotation about the [10-10] axis) in undeformed and plastically deformed WC-Co cemented carbides. By virtue of electron backscattered diffraction data coupled with the five parameter analysis method, the measurements show that while the misorientations of the Sigma 2 boundaries are 20% reduced by the plastic deformation, there are 33% reduction in the orientation of the Sigma 2 twist grain boundary plane. A dislocation model for grain boundary plane reorientation during plastic deformation is proposed. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.