Dynamic recrystallization behavior and microstructural evolution of Mg alloy AZ31 through high-speed rolling

High-speed rolling (HSR) is known to improve the workability of Mg alloys significantly, which makes it possible to impose a large reduction in a single pass without fracture. In the present study, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior and microstructural and textural variations of Mg alloy AZ31 during a HSR process were investigated by conducting rolling with different imposed reductions in the range of 20%–80% at a high rolling speed of 470 m/min and 400 °C. High-strain-rate deformation during HSR suppresses dislocation slips but promotes twinning, which results in the formation of numerous twins of several types, i.e., {10–12} extension twins, {10–11} and {10–13} contraction twins, and {10–11}–{10–12} double twins. After twinning, high strain energy is accumulated in twin bands because their crystallographic orientations are favorable for basal slips, leading to subsequent DRX at the twin bands. Accordingly, twinning activation and twinning-induced DRX behavior play crucial roles in accommodating plastic deformation during HSR and in varying microstructure and texture of the high-speed-rolled (HSRed) sheets. Area fraction of fine DRXed grains formed at the twin bands increases with increasing rolling reduction, which is attributed to the combined effects of increased strain, strain rate, and deformation temperature and a decreased critical strain for DRX. Size, internal strain, and texture intensity of the DRXed grains are smaller than those of unDRXed grains. Therefore, as rolling reduction increases, average grain size, stored internal energy, microstructural inhomogeneity, and basal texture intensity of the HSRed sheets gradually decrease owing to an increase in the area fraction of the DRXed grains.