Effect of roll pass schedule on through thickness texture development in Al-Mn alloy

During hot rolling a texture gradient is developed through the thickness of the slab. This is directly related to the different strain paths experienced by the material between the surface and the centre plane. The difference in strain path not only affects the texture, but can also give differences in stored energy though the thickness, which in turn affects the recrystallisation kinetics and ultimately the recrystallisation texture. The strain path is further complicated when a number of roll passes are involved, since the material is subjected to more complex strain paths. In the current investigation the effects of roll pass schedule (rolling direction, i.e. reverse rolling or continuous rolling) on the texture development during deformation and subsequent annealing have been characterised for an Al-1%Mn alloy. The study has shown that the texture of the surface region of the slabs is dependent on the roll pass schedule. This effect is at a maximum in the near surface region, although the effect of roll pass schedule on the recrystallisation kinetics is at a maximum 20% of the half thickness below the surface of the slabs.