Annealing response of AA5182 deformed in plane strain and equibiaxial strain paths

The annealing response of AA5182 Al–Mg alloy deformed to an effective prestrain of = 0.15 via plane strain and equibiaxial strain paths is compared. The comparison is done at two temperatures namely, 623 and 673 K. The recovery, recrystallization and grain growth behaviour of this alloy is studied by electron backscatter diffraction and dislocation density estimation using X-ray line broadening analysis. It is found that recrystallization is slower in equibiaxial deformation condition compared to that in plane strain deformation condition during annealing. Significant recrystallization is observed after annealing for 60 s at 673 K and for 480 s at 623 K following plane strain deformation. Furthermore, significant recrystallization is associated with lower grain growth at 673 K (∼55 μm) as opposed to that at 623 K (∼75 μm). The results are explained on the basis of differences in both the strain paths.