Cross-slip of extended dislocations and secondary deformation twinning in a high-Mn TWIP steel

Abstract

Twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steels have become important materials in industry owing to the good combination of strength and ductility and high strain hardening rate. The excellent mechanical properties are highly related to the glide of dislocation and deformation twinning. However, the cross-slip behavior of the extended dislocation and the mechanism of deformation twinning are still controversial. Here, the partial dislocation motion and austenite twinning of a high-Mn steel at the early stage of deformation were investigated using in-situ tensile transmission electron microscope (TEM) technique. Results show that a large number of plane glide and cross-slip of extended dislocations can occur at the early stage of deformation. Extended dislocation nodes can be formed as a result of the reaction between adjacent extended dislocations on the same glide plane. In-situ tensile TEM experiments confirm two cross-slip models of partial dislocation: (1) the Friedel-Escaig model, cross-slip based on constriction of extend dislocation and re-dissociation; (2) the Fleischer model, cross-slip involving Lomer-Cottrell dislocation. Based on experimental results and energy calculations, it can be confirmed that the formation mechanism of austenite primary deformation twin induced by partial dislocations is different from that of secondary deformation twin. Grain boundary emits partial dislocation into the grain to form stable stacking fault which induces austenite primary deformation twin. The formation of secondary deformation twin is related to cross-slip of extended dislocation. Only the cross-slip of an extended dislocation containing a 90° partial dislocation can induce the formation of secondary deformation twin by introducing the Frank partial dislocation.