Abnormal migration of twin boundaries in rolled AZ31 alloy containing intersecting {101¯2} extension twins

• Abnormal migration of twin boundaries was revealed.
• Intersecting twins have a significant effect on further twinning behavior.
• Further imposed strain can be accommodated by double twins.

Twin boundary (TB) migration under the condition of the interaction between different {10–12} twin variants with a high misorientation of 60.4° was investigated by using in-situ electron backscattered diffraction technique combined with Schmid factor analysis. It was found that TBs would continue to migrate when the sides of intersecting twin bands enclose an acute angle, but cease to migrate on the sides making an obtuse angle. Besides, due to the twin-twin interaction, half locked and entirely locked twin boundaries occurred as deformation progressed. Moreover, strain accommodated by double twin and new active twin was found at further imposed strain in current study.