Equal channel angular pressing of magnesium at room temperature: the effect of processing route on microstructure and texture

Various processing routes were applied to as-cast magnesium during equal channel angular pressing with back-pressure (BP) at room temperature (RT). Multiple passes with BP resulted in crack-free microstructures independent of the processing route. Microstructure and texture examination by electron backscatter diffraction and X-ray diffraction techniques after four passes revealed largely recrystallised grains. The most profound finding was the formation of special grain boundaries Σ13a and {10-12} twin boundaries during recrystallisation at RT.