Abstract
Two ensemble configurations were designed to investigate the intrinsic effect of a pulsed current on the recrystallization of rolled AZ31 alloy. The samples with a total reduction of about 60% were crystallized at 473K for 5 min when treated with the pulsed current. By forcing the pulsed current flow only through the graphite die, and the sample was heated by Joule effect, a microstructure with a grain size of ~5 μm was formed and the recrystallized fraction achieved 60% reduction. Moreover, a fully recrystallized microstructure with a grain size of ~9 μm was obtained when heated with Joule and athermal effects by forcing the pulsed current flow through the sample only. Based on the experimental results, the recrystallization behavior of deformed AZ31 under a pulsed current should be governed by the high Joule heating effect, which could generate transient high stress in the sample due to the nonsynchronous change in temperature and thermal expansion. The athermal effect of the pulsed current could enhance the dislocation mobility and thus accelerate coarsening of the recrystallization grains, but it should not be the key factor governing the recrystallization behavior of rolled AZ31B. This led to the p erroneous conclusion that the athermal effect of pulsed current played a crucial role in the recrystallization of deformed alloys.