Origin of Recrystallized Cubic Orientation Grains in Face-Centered Cubic Metals

In this study, a new possible recrystallization nucleation mechanism for cubic orientation grains of Ni–W alloys formed by rolling deformation was developed based on quasi-in situ electron backscattered diffraction results. The traditional nucleation theory states that recrystallized cubic orientation grains originate from rolled cubic orientation grains. However, the amount of rolled cubic orientation grains in a face-centered cubic metal with large deformation is extremely low. The study found that the recrystallized cubic orientation grains are formed by the twinning process of {221}<122> orientation grains which are generated by rolled {221}<122> orientation grains through strain-induced boundary migration. This discovery solves the puzzle of the recrystallization nucleation mechanism for cubic orientation grains and can help us to better understand the recrystallized cubic texture evolution in heavily deformed FCC alloys.