Abstract: The relationship between recrystallized nucleation location and grain orientation after nucleation in DZ40M alloy was investigated by SEM and EBSD. The results showed that after the deformation by indentation the recrystallized grains during annealing nucleate around the primary carbides and interdendritically in <112> orientation and <110> orientation, respectively. The formation of nucleus of recrystallization in DZ40M alloy could be prevented by the secondary carbides M23C6 precipitated at grain/subgrain boundaries and dislocation positions. When the annealing temperature is below 1423 K, the number of M23C6 precipitates increases with small size and spacing to restrain the recrystallized nucleation and decrease its rate.