Effect of rolling temperature on microstructure and texture of twin roll cast ZK60 magnesium alloy

Twin roll cast ZK60 alloy strip/sheet with final thickness of 0.5 mm was prepared, and effect of rolling temperature on microstructure and texture development was investigated using OM and XRD technique, microstructure and texture were measured on specimens subjected to rolling experiment at different rolling temperature, and macrotexture was also evaluated by X-ray diffraction method. In addition, the (100) and (0002) pole figures were measured, and the tensile test was performed to reveal the influence of rolling temperature on mechanical properties. The results show that the microstructure of ZK60 alloy sheet consisted of fibrous structure with elongated grains, and shear bands along the rolling direction after warm rolling. Dynamic recrystallization could be found during the warm rolling process at rolling temperature 350 °C and above. And many fine recrystallized grain could be observed in the shear bands area. It is a little difficult to see the recrystallized grain in the sheet warm rolled at 300 °C because of higher density of shear bands. The warm rolled ZK60 alloy sheet exhibited strong (0002) pole texture, the intensity of (0002) pole figure decreases with the increasing of rolling temperature and the basal pole tilted slightly to the transverse direction after warm rolling.