Evolution of Through-Thickness Texture and Microstructure of an ARB-Processed Nb1-Zr Alloy

This study investigates the effects of accumulative roll bonding processing on a commercial Nb1Zr alloy. The sheets were subjected to preheating, followed by five reduction cycles. Microstructural evolution was examined through metallography, revealing increasing homogenization of the morphology across the laminate thickness. Microhardness increased from 109 HV to 187 HV in the final laminate due to grain refinement. Electron back-scattered diffraction analysis showed removal of shear strain effects with each deformation step, highlighting microstructural heterogeneity and texture variation. The Goss texture was intensified at the surface during the third cycle, attributed to surface recrystallization. Low-angle grain boundaries were prevalent initially, shifting to a bimodal distribution favoring high-angle grain boundaries with increased deformation, linked to dynamic recovery and recrystallization.