Understanding the effect of annealing temperature on Hot-Rolled pure Mo Sheet: Investigations from Texture, deformation Behavior, and mechanical properties

• Annealing transforms Mo sheet microstructure from elongated to equiaxed grains. • Crystallographic texture evolves significantly with increasing annealing temperature. • MD reveals orientation-dependent deformation mechanisms. • 1300 K annealing achieves optimal strength-ductility balance. This study investigates the effects of annealing temperature on the microstructural evolution, texture development, deformation behavior, and mechanical properties of hot-rolled pure Molybdenum (Mo) sheets. A comprehensive analysis was conducted through the combination of experimental techniques and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to examine specimens annealed at temperatures ranging from 1000 K to 1600 K. The microstructural characterization revealed a progressive transformation from elongated grains to more equiaxed structures with increasing annealing temperature. The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis demonstrated significant texture evolution, with the < 100>//ND and < 110>//RD fiber texture showing remarkable temperature dependence. The MD simulations provided atomic-level insights into the orientation-dependent deformation mechanisms and dislocation evolution. Annealing at 1300 K optimized the mechanical properties, achieving a desirable synergy between strength (900 MPa) and ductility (22 %). This study provides valuable insights into the processing-structure–property relationships in hot-rolled Mo sheets, offering guidance for tailoring their properties for nuclear reactor applications.