Reversible motion of twist boundaries in AZ31 alloy and new design of magnesium alloys as smart materials

Crystallographic analysis showed that {1 0 1 2} twinning is the main deformation mechanism during compression. Twin-free microstructure, stress–strain curve, measured microtextures and macroscopic sample dimensions proved that reversible motion of twin boundaries („de-twinning“) occurs during subsequent compression along the normal direction which is more favourable than nucleation of new {1 0 1 2} twins during this compression thus profiling magnesium alloys to be rather smart materials.

IPF maps of AZ31 magnesium alloy after compression along the RD (a and b) showing individual {1 0 1  2} twin variants (c and d).

¹Institute of Physics of the ASCR, Na Slovance 2, CZ – 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic
²Institute of Physics of Materials ASCR, Žižkova 22, 616 62 Brno, Czech Republic