Grain refinement and weak-textured structures based on the dynamic recrystallization of Mg–9.80Gd–3.78Y–1.12Sm–0.48Zr alloy

We utilized electron backscatter diffraction to investigate the microstructure evolutions of a newly developed magnesium-rare earth alloy (Mg–9.80Gd–3.78Y–1.12Sm–0.48Zr) during instantaneous hot indirect extrusion. An equiaxed fine-grained (average grain size of 3.4 ± 0.2 µm) microstructure with a weak texture was obtained. The grain refinement was mainly attributed to the discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) and continuous DRX (CDRX) processes during the hot indirect extrusion process. The twin boundaries formed during the initial deformation stage effectively increased the number of high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs), which provided sites for new grain nuclei, and hence, resulted in an improved DDRX process. Along with DDRX, CDRX processes characterized by low angle grain boundary (LAGB) networks were also observed in the grain interior due to effective dynamic recovery (DRV) at a relatively high temperature of 773 K and high strain rates. Thereafter, LAGB networks were transformed into HAGB networks by the progressive rotation of subgrains during the CDRX process.