Twinning in single crystal Mg under microsecond impact along the 〈a〉 axis

Single crystals of pure Mg were deformed along the crystallographic 〈 a 〉 axis under normal plate impact loading of microsecond duration. Post-test electron microscopy analyses of the recovered specimens revealed the presence of extension twins. Twins were observed to grow to significant sizes and an estimate of the twin tip velocity was obtained. Secondary extension twinning was also observed.