Deformation twinning in submicron and micron pillars of twinning-induced plasticity steel

Mechanical twins are found to nucleate and grow in submicron- to micron-sized pillars of a twinning-induced plasticity steel under compression. The twin thickness ranges from nanometers to micrometers, and nucleation and growth are due to emission and glide of partial dislocations from the pillar surface, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy investigations.