Plastic anisotropy of straight and cross rolled molybdenum sheets

The microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of molybdenum sheets produced by different rolling processes were investigated by orientation imaging in the scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and tensile tests, respectively. For comparable recrystallization degree of the sheets investigated, straight rolling with low reduction ratio produces α-fiber textures with a maximum at {100} 〈110〉. At higher rolling degrees the maximum shifts to {112} 〈110〉. Cross rolling increases the rotated cube component {100} 〈110〉. The strong differences in the texture measured are reflected in the plastic anisotropy characterized by differences in the yield stress and Lankford parameter which were measured along directions in the rolling plane at angles of 0°, 45° and 90° with the rolling direction. The Taylor–Bishop–Hill theory is used successfully to qualitatively explain the plastic anisotropy.