Static recrystallization behavior of hot-deformed magnesium alloy AZ31 during isothermal annealing

The static recrystallization of hot-deformed magnesium alloy AZ31 during isothermal annealing was studied at temperature of 503 K by optical and SEM/EBSD metallographic observation. The grain size change during isothermal annealing is categorized into three regions, i.e. an incubation period for grain growth, rapid grain coarsening, and normal grain growth. The number of fine grains per unit area, however, decreases remarkably even in incubation period. This leads to grain coarsening taking place continuously in the whole period of annealing. In contrast, the deformation texture scarcely changes even after full annealing at high temperatures. It is concluded that the annealing processes operating in hot-deformed magnesium alloy with continuous dynamic recrystallized grain structures can be mainly controlled by grain coarsening without texture change, that is, continuous static recrystallization.