Interaction of a moving {1012} twin boundary with perfect dislocations and loops in a hcp metal

Abstract

Atomic-scale computer simulation is used to investigate the interaction of a moving ${10\overline{1}2}$ twin boundary in a hcp metal with either a straight 1/3$\left<{10\overline{1}2}\right>$(0001) dislocation lying perpendicular to the direction of twinning shear or a periodic row of perfect dislocation loops. The screw dislocation does not decompose in the moving interface and has no effect on its motion. The 60º-mixed dislocation is attracted by the boundary and decomposes into twinning dislocations and a disconnection (an interfacial defect with both step and dislocation character): the sign of the crystal dislocation determines the form of the disconnection and, thus, its effect on twin boundary motion. Boundary reactions with crystal dislocations are likely to be important for assisting the twinning process. Loops with Burgers vector, b, parallel to the interface are reformed in the other crystal after the twin boundary has passed through. The boundary attracts both interstitial and vacancy dislocation loops with inclined b, but is not transparent to them because the complete loop is swept along its glide prism by the moving interface. Depending on its nature, a loop either retains its structure in its parent crystal or is absorbed in the interface. The decomposition product in the latter case is consistent with the reactions of straight dislocations. The results indicate that twinning is efficient at sweeping loops from the microstructure when their density is low and is suppressed by loops when their density is high.