Texture evolution in AM30 Mg alloy deformed along different strain paths

The evolution of texture in an AM30 Mg alloy was examined after deformation by uniaxial tension, uniaxial compression and ring hoop tension testing (RHTT). Temperatures from ambient to 200°C were covered at a strain rate of 0.1/s. The samples were cut from extruded AM30 Mg alloy tubes. Specimens deformed to various strain levels were examined by optical microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) techniques. The results indicate that the initial extrusion texture and strain path together play important roles in the formation of different types of twins, which in turn significantly influence the evolution of the deformation texture. Contraction and double twinning are the dominant twinning mechanisms in uniaxial tension, while extension twinning prevails in uniaxial compression and RHTT. In addition, the deformation textures indicate that the active twinning planes are the ones with the highest Schmid factors.