Texture effects on plastic deformation of magnesium

Plastic deformation of hexagonal metals such as magnesium is strongly affected by the hexagonal crystal structure, and thus, for an understanding of the deformation behaviour of magnesium polycrystals, texture must be taken into account. Plane-strain compression tests on pure magnesium as well as on magnesium alloy AZ31 were carried out at 100 and 200 °C. A special emphasis was laid upon the influence of different starting textures on the deformation characteristics and the development of texture and microstructure. The measured flow curves and the microstructure investigation reveal that plastic deformation of magnesium at these temperatures is generally inhomogeneous and dominated by the appearance of shear bands. However, if the initial texture is chosen such that the formation of a basal texture is slowed down or even suppressed, substantial ductility can be achieved at temperatures as low as 100 °C. The texture development due to crystallographic slip can be reasonably modelled by a relaxed constraints Taylor simulation and yields information on the activated slip systems.