The effects of precipitates on microstructure and β-fiber texture in an Al-Cu-Li alloy during hot rolling

Abstract The hot rolling microstructures and textures were strongly influenced by the prior heat treatments. Various prior heat treatments were utilized to investigate the effects of precipitates on microstructure and β-fiber texture after hot rolling. For the microstructure, the extent of planar slips strongly affects the hot rolling microstructure. Shear events of δ′ particles resulted in massive shear bands, which were the consequence of extensive planar slips. T1 platelets and T2 rods would homogenize the dislocation slips, resulting in a homogenous microstructure. The abnormal microstructure in overaged specimens was ascribed to successive work softening in the precipitation free zones (PFZs). With respect to hot rolling texture, the kind of precipitates in the matrix affected the intensities and locations of the β-fiber tube in Euler space, especially in the section between Copper and S orientation.