Static recrystallization kinetics and texture evolution of low-temperature extruded Mg−Zn−Ca alloy during annealing

A low-alloyed Mg−1.2Zn−0.1Ca alloy was extruded at 150 °C, followed by annealing at varying temperatures of 200−300 °C. The microstructural evolution and static recrystallization kinetics were investigated. The as-extruded alloy exhibited a bimodal structure consisting of fine recrystallized grains of 0.8 μm and coarse un- recrystallized grains, with a recrystallized fraction of ~67%. The recrystallization process at 250 °C was identified to be appropriate with a slow recrystallized grain growth rate. The grains with and orientations exhibited preferential growth advantages during long-term annealing. Grain boundary segregation exerted a strong Zener pinning effect on the grain boundaries, which not only increased the grain growth activation energy, but also affected the texture evolution.