Comparison of grain structures and textures in AA5754 aluminum alloy sheets processed by room temperature rolling and rolling with liquid nitrogen

Two AA5754 sheets have been processed by cold rolling with 83% thickness reduction, one at room temperature and another with liquid nitrogen as coolant. The sheets were subsequently annealed at 220-275 degrees C for 1 hour. The development of grain structure and texture was studied by optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) in SEM, and the mechanical property by micro-hardness testing. It has been demonstrated that the as-rolled sheets have the same micro-hardness, but the grain structures and textures are very different. Compared to the sheet processed with liquid nitrogen, the one rolled at room temperature has stronger shear texture and finer grain structure.