Using Variant Selection to Facilitate Accurate Fitting of γ″ Peaks in Neutron Diffraction

γ″ diffraction peaks are hard to discern in neutron/X-ray diffraction patterns, hindering studies on the γ″-strengthened superalloys using in-situ diffraction. In this study, we propose a variant selection method to increase the intensity of γ″ peaks and to facilitate accurate fitting. The specific variants of γ″ are controlled by applying a 300 MPa tensile stress during aging at 790 °C for 5 hours. The interaction energy between the applied stress and the transformation strain of each γ″ variant differs, leading to an increase in the amount of the variants with a greater energy reduction at the expense of other variants. The enhanced variants result in greater γ″ peak intensities in neutron diffraction patterns, allowing both the Pawley refinement and single peak fitting to be performed. Lattice parameters of γ″ and γ phases, and lattice misfit between the two phases and volume fraction of γ″ are acquired. The uncertainties associated with the fitting maintain an acceptable level corresponding to 150 microstrains. The proposed variant selection method shows potential for studying the role of γ″ phase in Ni-base superalloys.