Reinforcement of the Cube texture during recrystallization of a 1050 aluminum alloy partially recrystallized and 10% cold-rolled

In high purity Aluminum, very strong {100}<001> recrystallization texture is developed after 98% cold rolling and annealing at 500 °C. On the contrary, in Aluminum alloys of commercial purity, the Cube component hardly exceeds 30% after complete recrystallization. Parameters controlling Cube orientation development are mainly the solute dragging due to impurities in solid solution and the stored deformation energy. In the present study, besides the 85% cold rolling, two extra annealings and a slight cold rolling are introduced in the processing route to increase the Cube volume fraction. The Cube development was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and Electron BackScattered Diffraction (EBSD). The nucleation and growth mechanisms responsible for the large Cube growth were investigated using FEG/EBSD in-situ heating experiments. Continuous recrystallization was observed in Cube oriented grains and competed with SIBM (Strain Induced Boundary Migration) mechanism. This latter was favored by the stored energy gap introduced during the additional cold-rolling between the Cube grains and their neighbors. Finally, a Cube volume fraction of 65% was reached after final recrystallization. - Highlights: ► EBSD in-situ heating experiments of aluminum alloy of commercial purity. ► A 10% cold-rolling after a partial recrystallization improved Cube nucleation and growth. ► Annealing before cold-rolling limited the solute drag effect and permitted a large Cube growth. ► Cube development is enhanced by continuous recrystallization of Cube sub-grains. ► The preferential Cube growth occurs by SIBM of small Cube grains.