Materials Science Forum, Vol.408-4, 1459-1464, 2002
Sharpening of the cube texture in AA3004 alloy by three step processes of partial annealing and light rolling
It is important to secure strong cube texture formation in 3004 alloys before final rolling for balancing earring in hard sheet for beverage can. To intensify cube texture, it is effective to insert partial annealing and light rolling before final annealing. In the present study, the effect of repeating of partial annealing and light rolling in addition to one step process was investigated. Hot rolled sheet with 3.5 mm thickness was cold rolled to 90% reduction after annealing. Thereafter, optimum partial annealing times and additional rolling reductions for strong cube texture formation were determined by measurements of softening characteristics and {111} role figure. Cube texture became strong and grain size became large as the step proceeds. Optimum annealing times and additional rolling reduction are longer and lower, respectively, as the step proceeds. It was supposed that cube grains formed at partial annealing survive during light rolling maintaining those orientation and become nucleation sites at the next partial and final annealing and that the increase of opportunity of orientation selection as the process proceeds make sharp cube texture.