Exploring the mechanism of 'Rare Earth' texture evolution in a lean Mg–Zn–Ca alloy

The entire recrystallisation sequence and associated crystallographic texture evolution of Mg-0.8Zn-0.2Ca (wt.%) alloy was tracked using a quasi-in-situ electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) method. Characteristic “Rare Earth” (RE) texture was formed, originating mainly from double twins and twinning-related shear bands consisting of compression and double twins. The RE textures appeared during the nucleation stage and were preserved during the relative uniform grain growth period because of solute segregation and concurrent precipitation although the alloying element content was very low. Ca and Zn co-segregated along grain boundaries with no evidence that segregation was preferred along special types of grain boundaries. The interactions between deformation microstructures, concurrent precipitation, solute drag, grain growth and texture evolution are discussed in detail. All the results indicate that Ca performs a similar role to that of RE elements in forming RE texture.