Microstructure development and texture evolution of ME20 sheets processed by accumulative roll bonding

Magnesium alloy ME20 sheets were produced by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) up to 8 cycles. The rolling microstructure was significantly refined during the first 2 cycles and remained homogeneous up to 6 cycles. After 8 cycles (epsilon similar to 6.4) the homogeneous equiaxed microstructure was replaced by a very fine shear band microstructure. With increasing ARB cycles, the texture intensity of basal poles decreased leading to a higher sheet tensile strength but with decreasing ductility. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.