Abstract

The recrystallization mechanisms in deformed aluminium single crystals have been investigated by SEM microdiffraction techniques (ECP and EBSP). Aluminium crystals of (001)(uv0) and (001)[011-] orientations were deformed in plane strain compression to a true strain of ~1 to develop different deformation microstructures. Transition bands separating deformation bands were formed by orientation splitting in the (001)(uv0) crystals, but were not observed in the (001)[011-] crystal.During annealing at 250°C and 400°C, recrystallization nuclei are developed in both the deformed matrix and along transition bands. Matrix nucleation appears to occur by a subgrain coalescence mechanism according to which the new grains are misoriented 15-30° from the average as-deformed material. Transition band nucleation gives an orientation spread 20-30° around the original, undeformed crystal orientation. A well-defined cube recrystallization texture is obtained at 400°C after complete recrystallization of the initial cube crystal.