The effect of rare earth elements on the behaviour of magnesium-based alloys: Part 2 – recrystallisation and texture development

The recrystallisation behaviour of two hot deformed magnesium alloys, AZ31 and Mg–1.5Gd, have been compared with particular emphasis on texture development. The alloy Mg–Gd, which contains the rare earth element gadolinium, statically recrystallised significantly faster than the conventional alloy AZ31. Despite faster recrystallisation kinetics, Mg–Gd developed the weaker recrystallisation texture associated with the addition of rare earth elements. It has been concluded that the weakening of recrystallisation texture that results from the addition of RE elements is not intrinsically linked with a reduction in the rate of recrystallisation. It is proposed that solute partitioning of RE elements to dislocations during deformation creates a microstructure from which weaker recrystallisation textures are favoured.