X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques can readily be utilized for the characterization of textures in crystalline materials. The advantages of XRD techniques are: 1) the test is nondestructive, 2) samples can easily be prepared, and 3) data can be collected and analyzed quickly.

Three low-C steel tin mill coils were manufactured during a mill trial which was conducted to optimize the processing parameters necessary for the production of material with low cup earing behavior. The processing parameters evaluated included hot mill conditions (roughing, finishing and coiling temperatures), cold rolling conditions (during first and second cold reduction), and continuous annealing conditions (line speed and strip temperature). Samples A, B, and C were secured from the coil center-width position of each coil, respectively, and were analyzed via XRD.

Properties such as normal anisotropy (r bar) and planar anisotropy (Δ r), have been correlated with an X-ray Intensity Ratio (XIR) at the Technical Center of National Steel.