Texture and microstructure evolution of pure zinc during rolling at liquid nitrogen temperature and subsequent annealing

As-cast pure Zinc (Zn) was subjected to rolling at liquid nitrogen temperature to impart 90% reduction in thickness. The rolled samples were then annealed at 50 °C for different soaking times of 5 min, 10 min, 20 min and 30 min respectively. The texture and microstructure evolution during rolling and subsequent annealing of these samples was investigated in the present study. A dominant <112¯0> fiber texture was observed along the rolling direction of both rolled and annealed samples. However, the texture intensity was increased till 10 min of soaking time and it was then decreased on further increasing the soaking time. Only 101¯2 type compressive twins were observed in the samples and these twinning was found to be significant in all the samples. The Vickers hardness of the samples was increased till 10 min of annealing time followed by decrease in hardness on further increasing the annealing time.