Modeling of Recrystallization of Commercial Particle Containing Al-Alloys

In order to describe and discuss the recrystallization behavior of commercial particle containing Al-alloys, the physical basis and a mathematical formulation of a softening model nicknamed ALSOFT, accounting for the combined effect of recovery and recrystallization behavior during annealing of heavily deformed aluminum alloys have been reviewed. The prediction power of the model is discussed using two different Al-Mn-Fe-Si-alloys experiencing different processing conditions, giving very different microchemistries in terms of solute and second-phase particle structures. The experiments clearly demonstrate the strong influence of microchemistries and in particular the strong dispersoid effects that may be experienced during back-annealing, either from pre-existing dispersoids or concurrent precipitation. It is demonstrated that good model predictions may be obtained for alloys and conditions which are not or to a limited extent influenced by particle drag effects and concurrent precipitation while conditions strongly affected by these effects are increasingly difficult to model and in the most extreme cases impossible with reasonable input model parameters. Possible causes for these difficulties are discussed and potential improvements of the model are suggested.