Molecular Dynamics Study on the Effect of Temperature on Deformation Mechanism of Magnesium Nanopillars with Square Cross-Sections

S Xu and YF Guo, NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY LETTERS, 8, 603-606 (2016).

DOI: 10.1166/nnl.2016.2221

In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the 0001 compression deformation of magnesium nanopillars with square cross-sections at various temperatures. Single crystal magnesium nanopillars with the side-length of 10-30 nm were examined via employing embedded atom potential. Simulation results showed a strong temperature dependence on the mechanism for initial yielding as compared to that of plastic flow. The initial yielding was caused by the nucleation of < c + a > first-order pyramidal (pi 1) slip at 10-250 K, in contrast to deformation twinning at 300-500 K. The governing mechanism for plastic flow over the temperature range from 10 to 500 K was the multiplication and interaction of the < c + a > slip and basal slip.

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