Microstructural Simulation of a 5052 Aluminum Alloy Strip for a Hot Tandem Mill

摘要

Evolution of microstructure in a 5052 hot-rolled strip has been investigated using the hot plane strain compression test with a Gleeble 3800 simulator. Single and two pass compressions were carried out respectively during which fast cooling at the end of the compression was applied. As-compressed samples were annealed by the cooling pattern of mill coiling to simulate the hot-rolled strips. The annealing effect was analyzed by Arrhenius law and Avrami equation. Effects of rolling parameters on recrystallization behaviors was quantitatively assessed by isothermal annealing. It was found that an as-deformed structure recrystallizes during the subsequent annealing and the recrystallization is promoted by decreasing rolling temperature, interpass time, or by increasing strain rate, accumulated strain as well as coiling temperature. Simulated microstructures match those observed in a hot tandem mill and production of the hot-rolled coils with superior quality has been successfully achieved.