The recrystallization and texture of magnesium–zinc–cerium alloys

Optical microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and X-ray diffraction are employed to characterize the microstructures and textures of as-rolled and annealed Mg–1Zn and Mg–1Zn–xCe. Mg–1Zn exhibited “basal” textures: the basal poles aligned with the sheet normal direction. With the addition of cerium, the texture was basal when recrystallization was limited; during recrystallization, the basal texture component weakened, to be replaced by a component with basal poles rotated ∼45° towards the transverse direction. Deformation, recrystallization and texture are discussed.