Twin nucleation at grain boundaries in Mg–3 wt.% Al–1 wt.% Zn alloy processed by equal channel angular pressing

The nucleation of {101¯2} twins at grain boundaries was studied in an Mg–3 wt.% Al–1 wt.% Zn alloy processed by equal channel angular pressing at 200 °C. A larger fraction of {101¯2} twin boundaries was observed in comparison to the as-rolled Mg–3 wt.% Al–1 wt.% Zn alloy. The preferential sites for the {101¯2} twin nucleation were grain boundaries with misorientation angles ranging from 10° to 35°. Growth of the twins into the grain interior was hindered.