The microstructures and mechanical properties of homogenized-rolled AA5052 aluminum alloys with different rolling
reductions and following annealing treatments were investigated by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray
diffractometer, micro-hardness and tensile tests. The results show that with increasing rolling reduction, the equiaxed grains are
elongated along the rolling direction obviously, and accumulation of rolling reduction increases the work hardening effect, which
results in the enhanced strength and degraded plasticity. When rolling reduction is 87%, the ultimate tensile strength reaches
325 MPa but elongation is only 2.5%. There are much more secondary phase precipitates after annealing treatment. With an increase
of annealing temperature, the amount of precipitates increases and work hardening diminishes continuously. The elongation is
improved to ~23% but the tensile strength is decreased to 212 MPa after annealing at 300 °C for 4 h, which are comparable to those
of as-homogenized alloy.