Direct correlation of deformation microstructures and cube recrystallization nucleation in aluminium

The same section of deformed and annealed Al–0.1 wt.% Mn has been characterized by high-resolution electron backscattered diffraction to determine cube recrystallization nucleation. After 90% plane strain compression, two types of deformed cube segments were present in the microstructure: (i) thin segments along the rolling direction (RD) as “narrow transition bands” between grains; and (ii) fragmented bands inclined about 15° to the RD as “strain localizations” inside grains. On light annealing, cube grains were preferentially nucleated along the intergranular RD segments.