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The X‐ray Laue microdiffraction (µLaue) technique has been establishing itself as a reliable means for microstrain analysis for the past few decades. One problem with this technique is that when the crystal size is significantly smaller than the probed volume and when the diffracting crystals are closely oriented, a large number of individual µLaue patterns are superimposed in a complex way on the recorded diffraction images. In that case, because of the difficulty of isolating unambiguously a single‐grain µLaue pattern, a reliable analysis of strains is tedious manually and hardly achievable with current automated methods. This issue is even more severe for low‐symmetry crystals or when high‐energy X‐rays are used, since each single‐crystal µLaue pattern already contains a large number of spots. This paper proposes overcoming this challenge through the development of a combined approach coupling µLaue and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The capabilities of this `EBSD‐assisted µLaue' automated method are illustrated on a monoclinic zirconia‐based specimen and µLaue diffraction patterns are analysed with the crystal orientation input from EBSD. The obtained results are statistically reliable, reproducible and provide a physical insight into the micromechanical characteristics of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-fusion and casting is used to produce large refractory bricks (∼250 kg) containing a high amount of ZrO 2 . These bricks are used in glass-making furnaces where good mechanical performance is required at very high temperatures (>1500 °C). During the manufacturing procedure, they develop large residual stresses as a result of the cooling conditions and structural phase transformations they underwent. This leads to stress concentration and crack formation at different length scales. In order to characterize these phenomena, a ‘multi-scale’ analysis approach is under development, where different internal strain measurement methods are combined. In this approach we benefit from different gauge volumes provided by various diffraction methods, ranging from a few hundred nanometres to a few tens of millimetres. In the present paper, the results of neutron diffraction measurements on large ZrO 2 blocks are given. These results show the level of internal strains at the millimetre scale, based on ( 3 ¯ 11 ) reflection of the monoclinic ZrO 2 . Overall, a range of 0.025% tensile to 0.1% compressive strain was observed. Clear strain gradients were also visible, as larger values in the interior of the block were encountered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]