The formation of ferrite quenching twins in a body-centered cubic Fe–Mn–Al alloy during high-temperature quenching

We have discovered ferrite twins in an Fe–Mn–Al ferritic alloy after quenching from high temperatures. The alloy is single-phase ferrite at temperatures higher than 1473 K. After quenching, ferrite quenching twins appear in the alloy. Twins appear to relieve of the strain energy field that arises from the thermal contraction of the ferritic alloy during quenching. As ferrite quenching twins are induced by the thermal strain energy field relief, they fall in the category of mechanical twins.