Investigation of microstructure, texture evolution and plastic anisotropy of short-time homogenized MS-DC cast 2024 aluminum alloy during rolling and annealing

A novel process combined intensive melt shearing direct chill (MS-DC) casting technology, shortened homogenization treatment, hot rolling and intermediate annealing (MS-DC combination process) was proposed to inhibit the growth of coarse Fe-rich primary intermetallic phases (IMPs) in the center of conventional DC cast aluminum alloy ingots and avoid the formation of large-sized T phase caused by long-time homogenization. The analysis of the dissolution kinetic of the primary phase showed that MS-DC as-cast structure provided favorable conditions for shortening the homogenization treatment and the nano-sized T phases precipitated during MS-DC combination process. Besides, the MS-DC combination process increased the number of randomly oriented subgrains and the drag force of recrystallization in the cold-rolled sheet, generating refined grains and random weak textures during solution treatment. Furthermore, more types of textures existed in the solution-treated MS-DC sheet, the mixed structure of β fiber deformation texture, CubeND and Cube texture decreased the planar anisotropy (Δr) value and increased the average plastic strain ratio (rave) value, which is conductive to the improvement of deep drawability.