Evolution of Microstructure and Texture in AZ31 Alloy Subjected to Gas Forming

In this study, AZ31 sheets were subjected to gas forming using a stepped geometry die and employing two different temperatures (400°C and 450°C) and exposure times (60 s and 120 s). Microstructural examinations revealed that the density of the mechanical twins may be taken as indicative of the progress of recrystallization together with the relative grain size. Although gas forming was successfully applied, the severe residual texture inherited from the initial material was found to persist and was little affected by the operating conditions and the multiaxial stress state of the process.