The influence of non-basal slip systems on the dynamic recrystallization of a rolled and
annealed Mg AZ31 sheet has been examined with the aim of investigating the relation
between the deformation and recrystallization mechanisms in this alloy. With that
purpose, the material was tested at 10−3 s−1 in tension along the rolling direction (RD), a
condition under which prismatic <a> slip and basal slip are the main deformation
mechanisms, and in compression along the normal direction (ND), where pyramidal
<c+a> slip and basal slip predominate. The evolution of the microstructure and the texture
at temperatures between 25 °C and 300 °C was examined. The optimum conditions for the
onset of discontinuous dynamic recrystallization in this alloy appear to be those in which
all three slip modes, i.e., basal, prismatic, and pyramidal <c+a> slip are active.