Texture and Grain Boundary Character Modification of Metallic Materials by Electromagnetic Processing

Abstract

The recrystallization behaviors of cold rolled aluminum alloys in an electric field of 400kV/mm and the phase transformation processes of a proeutectoid steel under a magnetic field of 12 Tesla have been studied. During the recrystallization annealing under the electric field of the cold-rolled 3104 aluminum alloy sheets, the electric field postpones the recovery and recrystallization progress as a whole, but does not superimpose much obstacle to the development of Cube texture component. The electric field also changes the occurrence of low Σ CSL boundaries. The possible influential mechanism of the electric field on vacancy concentration has been analyzed. When the magnetic field is applied to the austenitic decomposition of a medium carbon steel, it also shows influence on grain boundary character distribution and texture by various mechanisms. Results show that it increases the frequencies of low E CSL boundaries. The influence of the magnetic field on grain growth through its thermodynamic and kinetic effect on austenite decomposition leads to a modification of the grain boundary characters. Moreover, the magnetic field can affect the lattice distortion caused by the solubility of carbon atoms in specially orientated ferrite grains through the dipolar interaction between magnetic moments of iron atoms. This results in the enhancement of the fiber texture component in the transverse field direction. Electromagnetic processing of materials shows perspectives for tailoring the texture and the grain boundary characteristics of materials.