Kinking-facilitated nano-crystallization in a shock compressed Mg-1Zn alloy

The local deformation behavior and dynamic recrystallization of a shock compressed Mg-1 Zn alloy was investigated through EBSD and TEM. Since dislocation slipping and twinning were locally suppressed during high strain-rate deformation, a more flexible kinking deformation was activated to adjusted local orientation and facilitate slipping and twinning within the kinks. Meanwhile, due to the slow heat dissipation that resulted in a local temperature elevating, the kink bands were evolved into deformation bands with recrystallized nano-grains. Such a finding provides a new perspective for kinking-facilitated nanocrystallization in Mg alloys and other anisotropic metallic materials.