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A study of strain inhomogeneities in a zone-refined tungsten crystal oriented for (123) slip was carried out before and after a slight compression. The study was based on changes of interplanar spacings measured along different crystallographic directions and samples from different areas of the crystal by means of the X-ray back-reflection divergent beam method. Upon compression a redistribution of the locked-in elastic strains took place and the induced strains assumed a more homogeneous distribution for one of the sets of (123) planes considered. This homogeneity in the strain distribution along definite crystallographic directions is believed to result from the interaction of the primary slip dislocations with the pre-existing dislocation configuration and appears to be characteristic of the initial stage of work-hardening. The dislocation interaction induced by a small strain found practical application in the elimination of a troublesome substructure in highly zone-refined tungsten crystals and appears to form the scientific basis of certain stress-relief treatments long practised in metallurgical technology.
