Structure and Cube Texture Development Trend of Al4.5MgMn Alloy at Variable Annealing Conditions

Abstract

Hot-rolled Al4.5MgMn alloy was cold rolled to true strain levels 0.8, 1.6 and 2.3. Annealing at 300°C, 350°C and 400 °C was done to develop annealing structure. The annealed structures were measured by SEM-EBSD. The average grain size and grain size distributions were measured using Sigma-scan-Pro 5 structure analysis software. The average grain size and grain size distributions showed higher number frequency of lower annealing grain size with the increase of prior true strain and increase in annealing grain size for same level of prior straining during annealing at 400 than 350 °C. Mainly recovery occurred at 300 °C annealing for samples with initial prior strain levels. Bulk textures of deformed and annealed samples were measured by X-ray texture Goniometer. The texture strength of ideal texture components was derived. The analysis of annealing and rolling textures of individual components showed that some texture components like cube, cube RD, Goss, cube TD, and cube ND were strengthened during annealing. Selective measure (T_SK) of these components was derived. Strong T_SK was associated with ND cube component for initial prior strain levels and TSK strength of ND cube increased with annealing temperature due to accelerated recrystallization kinetics. At 2.3 prior strain level the selected T_SK strengths of Goss, TD cube, and cube texture component became prominent.