The recrystallization-assisted reduction in mechanical anisotropy of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr–Mn alloys

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, the effect of composition and solution temperatures on microstructure, texture and mechanical anisotropy of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr–Mn alloys was investigated by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vickers hardness testing, tensile testing and electron backscatter diffraction analysis. The results indicate that the mechanical anisotropy can be reduced by increasing solution temperature and introducing iron-rich phases, in which equiaxed recrystallized grains and optimized texture distribution can be obtained, especially for the #1 alloy with the presence of iron-rich phases. Additionally, according to the evolution of microstructure and texture, the mechanism of recrystallization affected by solution temperature and iron-rich phases in the Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr–Mn alloys was put forward. The relationship between mechanical anisotropy, microstructure and textures was also established in this paper.