Microstructure evolution and twinning behavior of AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets with bimodal texture during cold deep-drawing deformation

Abstract

Cold deep drawing experiments were conducted on AZ31 magnesium (Mg) alloy sheets with bimodal texture, which were prepared by the newly developed equal channel angular rolling and continuous bending and subsequent annealing (ECAR-CB-A) process. The results showed that the sheet could be successfully deep-drawn at a limiting drawing ratio (LDR) of 1.6, and the forming performance was better than that of the as-rolled base-texture sheet at room temperature. The microstructure after deep-drawing deformation was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microstructure (OM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). A large number of {10−12} extension twins (ETs) are observed in the outer shoulder region. Due to the bimodal texture, the activated {10−12} ET variants and the basal slip within the matrix have a higher Schmid Factor (SF) value when the outer shoulder region is under radial tensile stress, this enables the shoulder of the drawn cup to maintain good deformability. In addition, some {10−11} contraction twins (CTs) and {10−11}-{10−12} double twins (DTs) can be observed in this region, which is activated by the local strain accommodation between the twins and the slip systems, and the multiaxial stress. Due to different stress conditions, the volume fractions of {10−12} ETs in the inner shoulder region are less than that in the outer region. The stress concentration caused by {10−11}-{10−12} DTs that occurred in the edge region is the reason for the fracture of the drawn cups at a drawing ratio(DR) of 1.7.