Fine grain evolution taking place during deformation of magnesium alloy AZ31 was studied in compression at 673 K (0.73
Tm) and by using optical and SEM/EBSD microscopy. The flow curve shows a rapid hardening and a stress peak at relatively low strain (ε
p = 0.12), followed by a strain softening and then a steady state flow at high strains. Fine grains are evolved at serrated grain boundaries at around ε
p and developed rapidly during strain softening, finally leading to a roughly full evolution of equiaxial fine grains. On the other hand, kink bands are evolved at serrated grain boundaries and also frequently in grain interiors even at around ε
p. The misorientation of the boundaries of kink band increases rapidly during strain softening and approach a saturation value at high strains. The average size of the regions fragmented by kink band is almost the same as that of fine grains evolved in high strain. It is concluded therefore that new grain evolution can be controlled by a deformation-induced continuous reaction, i.e. continuous dynamic recrystallization (DRX), although many characteristics of new grain evolution process and its relation to flow behaviors are apparently similar to those in conventional, i.e. discontinuous, DRX.
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