Mechanical twinning: Critical role in tensile ductility and limited influence on impact toughness of high Mn steels

Jun Chen; Song Lu; Yan sen Hao; Guang ming Cao; Tadashi Furuhara; Zi yong Hou

doi:10.1016/j.scriptamat.2026.117414

Mechanical twinning: Critical role in tensile ductility and limited influence on impact toughness of high Mn steels

Jun Chen^*
, Song Lu^*
, Yan sen Hao
, Guang ming Cao
, Tadashi Furuhara
, Zi yong Hou^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

BA5502 ProperTune ICME

Northeastern University (NEU)
China Iron and Steel Research Institute Group
Tohoku University
Chongqing University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

The influence of mechanical twinning on mechanical performances of advanced steels remains a central issue in alloy design. In the present work, we systematically investigated the effects of mechanical twinning on tensile ductility and impact toughness in Fe-0.6C-0.5Si-24Mn-0/3/5Al (wt.%) steels. We hence conclude that mechanical twinning is indispensable for achieving outstanding tensile ductility but not a prerequisite for attaining high impact toughness. Notably, high impact toughness can instead be realized through alternative toughening mechanisms, particularly in alloys with elevated stacking fault energy. These findings challenge the prevailing paradigm linking twinning to both ductility and toughness, and offer a new framework for designing high-strength steels with an optimized balance of properties for demanding applications.

Original language	English
Article number	117414
Number of pages	6
Journal	Scripta Materialia
Volume	282
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2026.117414
Publication status	Published - 2026
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

This work was supported by Key R&D Program of Shandong Province, China (grant number 2023CXGC010310) and Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province for Excellent Youth Scholars (grant number 2021-YQ-05). Z.Y. acknowledge the financial support National Natural Science Foundation of China (52574428), the Innovative Research Group Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (T2421001), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (2024IAIS-ZD004, 2025CDJZKPT-03), and '111′ Project from the Ministry of Education and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of China (grant number B16007).

Keywords

Dislocation structure
High Mn steel
Impact toughness
Mechanical twinning
Tensile ductility

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10.1016/j.scriptamat.2026.117414

Cite this

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title = "Mechanical twinning: Critical role in tensile ductility and limited influence on impact toughness of high Mn steels",

abstract = "The influence of mechanical twinning on mechanical performances of advanced steels remains a central issue in alloy design. In the present work, we systematically investigated the effects of mechanical twinning on tensile ductility and impact toughness in Fe-0.6C-0.5Si-24Mn-0/3/5Al (wt.\%) steels. We hence conclude that mechanical twinning is indispensable for achieving outstanding tensile ductility but not a prerequisite for attaining high impact toughness. Notably, high impact toughness can instead be realized through alternative toughening mechanisms, particularly in alloys with elevated stacking fault energy. These findings challenge the prevailing paradigm linking twinning to both ductility and toughness, and offer a new framework for designing high-strength steels with an optimized balance of properties for demanding applications.",

keywords = "Dislocation structure, High Mn steel, Impact toughness, Mechanical twinning, Tensile ductility",

author = "Jun Chen and Song Lu and Hao, \{Yan sen\} and Cao, \{Guang ming\} and Tadashi Furuhara and Hou, \{Zi yong\}",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1016/j.scriptamat.2026.117414",

language = "English",

volume = "282",

journal = "Scripta Materialia",

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publisher = "Elsevier",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Mechanical twinning

T2 - Critical role in tensile ductility and limited influence on impact toughness of high Mn steels

AU - Chen, Jun

AU - Lu, Song

AU - Hao, Yan sen

AU - Cao, Guang ming

AU - Furuhara, Tadashi

AU - Hou, Zi yong

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - The influence of mechanical twinning on mechanical performances of advanced steels remains a central issue in alloy design. In the present work, we systematically investigated the effects of mechanical twinning on tensile ductility and impact toughness in Fe-0.6C-0.5Si-24Mn-0/3/5Al (wt.%) steels. We hence conclude that mechanical twinning is indispensable for achieving outstanding tensile ductility but not a prerequisite for attaining high impact toughness. Notably, high impact toughness can instead be realized through alternative toughening mechanisms, particularly in alloys with elevated stacking fault energy. These findings challenge the prevailing paradigm linking twinning to both ductility and toughness, and offer a new framework for designing high-strength steels with an optimized balance of properties for demanding applications.

AB - The influence of mechanical twinning on mechanical performances of advanced steels remains a central issue in alloy design. In the present work, we systematically investigated the effects of mechanical twinning on tensile ductility and impact toughness in Fe-0.6C-0.5Si-24Mn-0/3/5Al (wt.%) steels. We hence conclude that mechanical twinning is indispensable for achieving outstanding tensile ductility but not a prerequisite for attaining high impact toughness. Notably, high impact toughness can instead be realized through alternative toughening mechanisms, particularly in alloys with elevated stacking fault energy. These findings challenge the prevailing paradigm linking twinning to both ductility and toughness, and offer a new framework for designing high-strength steels with an optimized balance of properties for demanding applications.

KW - Dislocation structure

KW - High Mn steel

KW - Impact toughness

KW - Mechanical twinning

KW - Tensile ductility

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105040652223

U2 - 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2026.117414

DO - 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2026.117414

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105040652223

SN - 1359-6462

VL - 282

JO - Scripta Materialia

JF - Scripta Materialia

M1 - 117414

ER -

Mechanical twinning: Critical role in tensile ductility and limited influence on impact toughness of high Mn steels

Abstract

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Keywords

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