THE ROLE OF PARTICLE STIMULATED NUCLEATION DURING RECRYSTALLIZATION OF AN ALUMINUM-MANGANESE ALLOY

Several recrystallization mechanisms are operative in strain hardening aluminum alloys. The contribution of each mechanism depends on the ma terial and processing parameters such as prior processing history, amo unt of solute, deformation rate and temperature, and size and volume f raction of second phase particles. In order to quantitatively determin e the extent of each of the different recrystallization mechanisms, a detailed three dimensional analysis of a cold deformed and recrystalli zed Al-Mn (Fe, Si) aluminum alloy was performed. This study showed tha t about 50 % by volume of all recrystallized grains were formed by par ticle stimulated nucleation (PSN) and 20 % of the newly formed grains are cube oriented and have mainly nucleated at pre-existing deformed c ube grains. The remaining recrystallized grains are not cube-oriented, nor are they related to particles. They art expected to have nucleate d at deformation inhomogeneities and old grain boundaries.