Nitrogen interstitial induced texture depth gradient in stainless steel

The microstructural changes induced by the incorporation of large quantities of nitrogen in austenitic stainless steel are analyzed. Phase and texture modification as well as grain rotation are investigated by X-ray and electron backscatter diffraction. A quantitative dependence of the rotation on the grain orientation is determined by means of depth profiling and diffraction techniques. Correlation between local nitrogen interstitial content, associated crystallographic rotation and degree of texturing is established.