Recrystallisation and texture in AA 8xxx series aluminium-iron wrought alloys

The effect of second-phase particles on the formation of recrystallisation textures in Al–Fe alloy sheet was analysed. Four commercial AA 8xxx series alloys were chosen on the basis of their Fe and Si contents, one alloy additionally comprised Mn. Main focus was laid on the efficiency of particle stimulated nucleation (PSN) at the large constituent phases. As known from other Al alloys, the recrystallisation textures of the present AA 8xxx alloys are composed of new grains forming at three distinct nucleation sites, viz. cube bands, pre-existing grain boundaries and coarse intermetallic particles. The efficiency of each of these nucleation mechanisms strongly depends on the details of the as-deformed microstructure, especially on the size distribution of the constituent particles.