Generation of fine extension twins in rolled magnesium alloy AZ31B at room temperature by simple shear

Abstract

A textured AZ31B plate was subject to simple shear along 45° to its normal direction at room temperature, and extension twinning under biaxial stress was investigated by statistical analyses of electron backscatter diffraction maps. Extension twinning is the primary deformation mechanism up to a plastic shear strain of 15% (8.66% equivalent plastic strain), and the most frequent twin thickness remains to be 1.5 μm. The simple shear suppresses twin growth, yet brings sustained twin nucleation. The critical resolved shear stress of extension twinning is determined as 25 MPa and remains virtually constant up to a plastic shear strain of 10%. The present study suggests that by using biaxial stress state that promotes multi-twin nucleation, a microstructure with dense and fine twins can be produced at room temperature in a conventional Mg alloy, without jeopardizing the contribution of twinning to plastic straining.