Texture and microstructure evolution of ECAP processed AlMg1Mn0.14 alloy

Microstructure and texture evolution of an AlMg1Mn0.14 alloy after Equal-Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) and subsequent heat treatment were investigated. Initially the material was subjected to up to 8 passes with a 90 degrees die angle using routes A and B-c The deformed and annealed states were characterised by crystallographic texture analysis, Electron Back Scatter Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, optical microscopy and microhardness tests. The recorded texture and microstructure changes were compared to the behaviour of specimens produced by conventional cold rolling. It was shown that the observed discontinuous change in texture, microstructure and microhardness has to be attributed to discontinuous recrystallisation, which proceeded faster for route B-c samples. Furthermore, it was found that ECAP deformed material is more stable against recrystallisation than cold rolled material.