Modeling the formation of twins and stacking faults in the ag-cu system Original Research Article

In forming new grains, both in solid state reactions and in solidification, the formation of twins or stacking-faults is of considerable interest. In the present work, a terrace/ledge nucleation model is used to explore the relationship between the degree of undercooling and the probability of forming twins or stacking-faults, and compared with experimental results for rapid solidification of several alloys in the two-phase Ag-Cu system. The model is consistent with the experimental results and indicates that at an undercooling between 37 K and 55 K, twins or stacking-faults form first in the Ag-rich solid solution. Larger undercooling brings about the formation of twins or stacking-faults in the Cu-rich solid solution. The degree of undercooling required for defect formation can be related to the stacking fault or twin boundary energies of the materials.