Influence of hot-working parameters on earing behaviour of Al–2Mg sheet

Abstract

Experiments have been conducted to investigate the effect of hot-working parameters on the earing quality of sheet at each stage of fabrication. It is shown that a linear relationship exists between hot-work induced subgrain size and percentage earing for material which has been (i) hot rolled, (ii) hot rolled and cold rolled, (iii) hot rolled and annealed, (iv) hot rolled, annealed, and cold rolled, and (v) hot rolled, annealed, cold rolled, and annealed. It is argued that the relationship is indirect and arises because the mechanisms which determine the subgrain size also govern the development of texture. Further, it is shown that annealing after hot working produces a recrystallized grain size which bears a linear relationship to the subgrain size produced by hot working alone. Finally, tests involving different heating rates during the annealing cycle have shown that the earing quality is affected by this parameter.