Modeling the recrystallization textures of aluminum alloys after hot deformation

The recrystallization textures of aluminum alloys can be explained by a growth selection of grains with an approximate 40° 〈111〉 orientation relationship out of a limited spectrum of preferentially formed nucleus orientations. Accordingly, recrystallization textures can be modeled by the multiplication of a function f(g)^nucl describing the probability of nucleation of the various orientations with a function f(g)^grow representing their growth probability. Whereas the growth probability can be accounted for by a 40° 〈111〉 transformation of the rolling texture, the nucleation probability of the respective grains is given by the distribution of potential nucleus orientations, which is known from local texture analysis of rolled aluminum alloys to be cube bands, grain boundaries, and second-phase particles. The contributions of these nucleation sites are determined according to an approach to calculate the number of nuclei forming at each site, which is based on microstructural investigations of the evolution of the various nucleation sites during deformation. This article describes the model for recrystallization texture simulation in aluminum alloys and gives examples of recrystallization textures of AA3004 deformed in plane-strain compression at different deformation temperatures and strain rates. O. Engler earned his Ph.D. in physical metallurgy at the University of Technology at Aachen, Germany, in 1990. He is currently a long-term visiting staff member at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Engler is a member of TMS. H.E. Vatne earned his Ph.D. in physical metallurgy at the Norwegian Institute for Science and Technology, Trondheim, in 1995. He is currently a research scientist at Hydro Aluminum.