Deformation of twins in a magnesium alloy under tension at room temperature

•Necking and cracking of twins in an Mg alloy is observed.•Slip along the double twin boundaries is observed.•Their effects on hardening/softening are discussed.•The importance of deformation of twins themselves on the deformation of Mg alloys is pointed out the first time.

Twinning of a polycrystalline Mg–3Al–0Mn alloy at a uniaxial tensile strain rate of 0.001 s−1 to a total strain of 0.02 was studied by transmission electron microscope. The deformation of twins, necking and cracking, was observed. Meanwhile the interception of twins resulted in double twinning and slip along the double twin boundaries. Their effects are discussed in view of work hardening/softening of magnesium alloys.

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