Energetic Analysis of Deformation Twins and Twinning Dislocations in Magnesium

Abstract

Twin boundaries and twinning dislocations for (10\bar{1}2) and (10\bar{1}1) twins in Mg are investigated, using the generalized-embedded-atom-method interatomic potential. The twin boundary energy for the (10\bar{1}2) twin is found to be larger than that for the (10\bar{1}1) twin. On the other hand, both the dislocation energy and the Peierls barrier of the twinning dislocation are low for the (10\bar{1}2) twin. This implies that the (10\bar{1}2) twin is capable of having a winding morphology and can grow easily.