Thermally activated twin thickening and solute softening in magnesium alloys - a molecular simulation study

P Yi and ML Falk, SCRIPTA MATERIALIA, 162, 195-199 (2019).

DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2018.11.021

Thickening of the tension twin 10 - 12< 10 - 11 > in Mg-Al and Mg-Y alloys varies systematically with temperature, strain rate and solute concentration. The twin boundary propagates through the nucleation and expansion of twin dislocation loops, a thermally activated process. Solute softening is observed in both alloys. The softening saturates with increasing solute concentration due to solute hardening of twin dislocation loop expansion. With the present interatomic potential, Al solutes are more effective in both softening and hardening than Y solutes. Twin thickening exhibits weak strain rate sensitivity for pure Mg but the strain rate sensitivity increases with solute concentration. (C) 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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