Effect of Ca Precipitation on Texture Component Development in AZ Magnesium Alloy

To enhance the formability of magnesium alloys, inhibition of basal texture development by the particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN) effect has attracted significant interest. However, its contribution to texture development is not easily observed due to the separation of texture from the conventional deformation behavior. This study aims to separate the Ca texture from the deformation behavior of AZX611 alloy and quantify it using scanning electron microscopy with electron backscatter diffraction (SEM-EBSD). Since Ca in the AZ61 magnesium alloy precipitated as Al₂Ca, the hot-rolled magnesium alloys AZ31, AZ61, and AZX611 were used. High temperature compression was conducted at 723 K, the strain rate 0.05/s and 0.005/s and the true strain up to -1.0. Dynamic recrystallization was observed in each specimen and the Ca-free alloys showed dislocation glide at high strain rates and solute drag at low strain rates. When the dislocation glide dominated, basal texture was strengthened. In contrast, solute drag caused non-basal texture development. Precipitation hardening caused AZ61 to have higher flow stress than those of the Ca-free alloys by the PSN effect; its texture was observed separately because the PSN grain growth around the precipitation and orientation was specific, similar to the one developed at the solute atom drag.