This paper describes the use of diffraction to experimentally characterize a directionally solidified Cu-Cr eutectic alloy containing sub-micron diameter Cr whiskers. This material has been analyzed in terms of its texture and thermal residual elastic strains as measured by neutron diffraction. Observations of the defect structure of the material and the crystallographic relationship between phases are also made. It is observed that the Cr phase in the directionally solidified material is similar in morphology and crystallographic orientation relationship to Cr precipitates formed in the solid state. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.