Evolution of microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of SiC/AZ31 nanocomposite during hot rolling process

•Magnesium nanocomposite sheets with high surface quality were successfully fabricated by hot rolling.•The basal texture was strengthened during progressive rolling up to 8 passes, then followed by a weakening.•The basal texture showed a splitting feature along transverse direction.•The tensile yield strength of the nanocomposite was significantly improved by more than 200% after hot rolling.

Magnesium matrix nanocomposite (1 vol.% nano-SiCp/AZ31) sheets were successfully fabricated by hot rolling at 350 °C with per pass reduction of 15% and total reduction up to 84%. Microstructure and texture evolution of the nanocomposites during hot rolling were investigated. Twinning and associated dynamic recrystallization (TDRX) were the dominant features at the initial stage of hot rolling. With the increase of rolling passes, grains were refined gradually due to dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and distribution of nanoparticles was also well modified. Meanwhile, shear bands became denser and longer with proceeding of hot rolling. Basal texture splitting along transverse direction was observed during hot rolling and intensity of the basal texture first increased and then showed a sharp decrease, while the uniformity kept increasing. Mechanical properties of the nanocomposite sheets were substantially enhanced. Compared with that of the as-cast nanocomposite, yield strength of the 11 passes hot-rolled sheet was more than doubled. Mechanical properties of the nanocomposite sheets showed a distinct anisotropy along rolling direction and transverse direction.

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