On the characterization of recrystallized fraction using electron backscatter diffraction: A direct comparison to local hardness in an IF steel using nanoindentation

▶ EBSD-based techniques can be effectively used to assess the recrystallized fraction of many engineering alloys, including interstitial-free steels. ▶ Kernel average misorientation and grain average misorientation agree with the local recrystallized state (as assessed by nanohardness) better than EBSD image quality, optical microscopy, or microhardness. ▶ Kernel average misorientation and grain average misorientation produce the most reliable results of the methods analyzed in the present work for characterizing recrystallization fraction using EBSD, despite having a step size dependence.