Particle rotations during plastic deformation of 5086 aluminum alloy

Particle fracture is an important void nucleation mode in numerous alloys where fracture is governed by void nucleation and growth processes. The rotations of brittle phase inclusions/particles can facilitate particle cracking (and, therefore, void nucleation) by bringing the inclusions/particles in favorable orientations with respect to the applied/induced tensile load, thereby increasing the void nucleation rate. In this contribution, we present detailed quantitative microstructural data on the rotations of Fe-rich inclusions in a 5086 (O) Al-alloy as a function of strain and stress states. These results are compared with our earlier data on particle rotations in 6061 (T6) Al-alloy, and the differences are explained on the basis of differences in the microstructure and constitutive behavior of the two alloys.