Deformation behavior of Mg single crystals during a single ECAP pass at room temperature

Five kinds of pure magnesium single crystals with different crystal orientations were prepared and then pressed into an equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) die at room temperature. Deformation behavior and change in crystal orientations were investigated. The c-axis of the single crystals was mainly oriented to normal direction (ND) in spite of the different initial crystal orientations. Deformation and crystal rotation of the single crystals resulted from basal slips and { 10 1 ¯ 2 } twinning. ECAP deformation first led to basal slip activation and then { 10 1 ¯ 2 } to twinning. The twin propagated and occupied large areas of single crystals. In the primary large twin, basal slips were activated again, generating secondary twins. Dynamic recrystallization occurred within the secondary twins despite being at room temperature. The final orientations, whose c-axes are parallel to ND, agree with texture in ECAPed pure Mg polycrystals at a high temperature. The effect of temperature on the texture development would be small in pure Mg polycrystals.