Dynamic deformation behavior and microstructural evolution during high-speed rolling of Mg alloy having non-basal texture

The dynamic deformation behaviors and resultant microstructural variations during high-speed rolling (HSR) of a Mg alloy with a non-basal texture are investigated. To this end, AZ31 alloy samples in which the basal poles of most grains are predominantly aligned parallel to the transverse direction (TD) are subjected to hot rolling with different reductions at a rolling speed of 470 m/min. The initial grains with a TD texture are favorable for {10–12} twinning under compression along the normal direction (ND); as a result, {10–12} twins are extensively formed in the material during HSR, and this consequently results in a drastic evolution of texture from the TD texture to the ND texture and a reduction in the grain size. After the initial grains are completely twinned by the {10–12} twinning mechanism, {10–11} contraction twins and {10–11}-{10–12} double twins are formed in the {10–12} twinned grains by further deformation. Since the contraction twins and double twins have crystallographic orientations that are favorable for basal slip during HSR, dislocations easily accumulate in these twins and fine recrystallized grains nucleate in the twins to reduce the increased internal strain energy. Until a rolling reduction of 20%, {10–12} twinning is the main mechanism governing the microstructural change during HSR, and subsequently, the microstructural evolution is dominated by the formation of contraction twins and double twins and the dynamic recrystallization in these twins. With an increase in the rolling reduction, the average grain size and internal strain energy of the high-speed-rolled (HSRed) samples decrease and the basal texture evolves from the TD texture to the ND texture more effectively. As a result, the 80% HSRed sample, which is subjected to a large strain at a high strain rate in a single rolling pass, exhibits a fully recrystallized microstructure consisting of equiaxed fine grains and has an ND basal texture without a TD texture component.