Modelling recrystallization after hot deformation of aluminium

A physically based model for predicting recrystallization microstructures and textures after hot deformation of aluminium is presented. The modelling approach taken differs from similar models developed for steels. The present model is based on recent experimental investigations directed towards identifying the nature of the nucleation sites for recrystallized grains of different crystallographic orientations. Particle stimulated nucleation, nucleation from cube bands and nucleation from grain boundary regions have been incorporated in the model. The model has been applied to predictions of recrystallized grain sizes and textures of a hot deformed AlMgMn alloy and a commercial purity aluminium alloy. The model responds in a correct way to variations in strain, Zener-Hollomon parameter, initial grain size, initial cube fraction and precipitation. The good agreement between model predictions and experimental results confirms that the recrystallized cube grains are nucleated from ''old'' cube grains that were present in the starting material and survived the deformation. Copyright (C) 1996 Acta Metallurgica Inc.