Polymorphic nature of {332} 〈 113 〉 twinning mode in BCC alloys
P. Kwaśniak, Fan Sun, S.A. Mantri, Rajarshi Banerjee, F. Prima
Abstract
Unprecedented mechanical properties of the novel TWIP/TRIP titanium alloys are controlled by {332}<113> twinning and stress-induced martensitic transformation, which can operate separately, simultaneously or even in synergy, following a still unclear atomic-scale mechanism. Using ab initio calculations and experimental observations, we show that {332}<113> twinning can be described as a polymorphic solid-state transformation able to produce either twinned or martensitic structures with a unified transformation path. The required lattice strains and atomic shuffles are provided by the shear-shuffle mechanism of twin operation, of which trajectory, due to accompanied atomic relaxation, is not linear and strongly influenced by β phase stability.