X-ray diffraction Rietveld analysis of cold worked austenitic stainless steel

In the present study, the dislocation density of cold worked austenitic stainless steel samples in the range 2-40% was calculated on the basis of Williamson-Smallman approach using modified Rietveld method. Dislocation density has been found to increase significantly with increasing percentage of cold work up to 20%. The dislocation density is found to be 1.8 x 10(11)/m(2) for the annealed sample and are 3.6 x 10(15)/m(2) and 5.4 x 10(15)/m(2) for 20% and 40% cold worked sample, respectively. The effect of cold work on dislocation density, hardness and Fourier electron density of the cold worked samples is discussed in comparison with the annealed sample. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.