Study of deformation texture in an AZ31 magnesium alloy rolled at wide range of rolling speed and reductions

The plasticity of Mg is restricted at low temperatures because: (a) only a small number of deformation mechanisms can be activated, and (b) a preferred crystallographic orientation (texture) develops in wrought alloys, especially in flat-rolled sheets. This causes problems in thin sheet processing as well as component manufacturing from the sheet. In this study, different rolling speeds from 15 to 1000 m/min were employed to warm-roll AZ31B magnesium alloy to different reductions. The results show that AZ31B sheets rolled at 15 m/min and 100 degrees C has fractured for reductions of more than 30% per pass. However, by increasing the rolling speed to 1000 m/min the rollability was improved significantly and the material can be rolled to reductions of more than 70% per pass. The results show that with increasing strain rate at 100 degrees C, the splitting of basal poles was observed, indicating the activation of more contraction twins and secondary twins.