Room temperature formability of a magnesium AZ31 alloy: Examining the role of texture on the deformation mechanisms

The deformation behavior, texture and microstructure evolution of six sample types of a commercial magnesium alloy AZ31 with different processing histories were investigated during plane strain compression at room temperature using a channel-die device. Although all the samples were deformed under the same conditions, i.e. temperature and strain rate, the initial state of the samples prior to deformation was responsible for the final texture and microstructure. Stress–strain curves showed a maximum ductility of 28% for the sample with a hot rolling history. EBSD analysis was carried out to give a better insight into the operating deformation mechanisms. Besides the expected { 1   0   1 ¯   2 } -tensile twinning, { 1   0   1 ¯   1 } -compression twinning and { 1   0   1 ¯   1 } − { 1   0   1 ¯   2 } -double twinning were also observed in some specimens and were correlated to microcrack formation, which caused an early shear failure.