Textures and Microstructures Formed in WE43 and AZ31 Magnesium Alloys during High Speed Rolling and Their Formation Mechanisms

Abstract

High speed rolling is recognized as the process that can produce sheets of magnesium alloys having RD-split basal texture without or with minimum preheating. However, the mechanism of the texture formation during high speed rolling has not been fully clarified yet. In this study, conventional AZ31 and a rare earth - yttrium added alloy, WE43 were rolled with high rolling speed. The specimens having different textures were prepared by changing the cutting geometry to initially textured sheets. It is seen that the crack, microstructure and texture formations are strongly influenced by the initial textures in AZ31. These features are strongly related to the extension twinning, {10-12}<-1011>. In the case of WE43, cracks are formed more often than in AZ31, despite of the weak initial textures. It is proposed that the activities of the contraction and double twinning systems give more chance of stress concentration, resulting in the narrow shear banding and subsequent cracking. In addition to the experimental analysis, results of the numerical simulation using VPSC model are also used to discuss the texture formation mechanism.