Texture evolution in Mg during rolling with a change of deformation path – a modeling approach

The weakening of strong textures in Mg alloys is a crucial factor in obtaining good quality final products that are less anisotropic. Considerable attention has been focused on experiments to find the optimal chemical composition of alloys or processing conditions. However, to reduce time-consuming experiments, texture simulations can help in specifying future research directions. In the present work, the texture evolution in rolled Mg and its alloys was studied using the viscoplastic self-consistent model. The texture simulations presented in the study cover unidirectional rolling, reverse rolling, and cross rolling of Mg and its alloys to check if the change in deformation path has an impact on the activation of non-basal slip systems. The results obtained in the study may help to design the best processing technology and reduce the mechanical anisotropy of magnesium alloys. Slip systems such as basal, prismatic, and pyramidal were taken into consideration. To reflect the effect of alloying elements on hardening, different values for critical resolved shear stress were considered. Pole figures and slip system activity were investigated to understand the texture evolution during rolling as the deformation path changes. It was found that cross rolling may be the most effective processing technology to reduce strong textures during the rolling of Mg alloys. To activate non-basal systems, critical resolved shear stresses and the Schmid factor must be modified. The former can be changed by increasing the processing temperature, proper alloying elements, or change in the strain rate sensitivity; the latter by changing the deformation path.