Effect of β Grain Size on Stress-Induced Martensitic Transformation in β Solution-Treated 51.1Zr-40.2Ti-4.5Al-4.2V Alloy

Abstract

The effect of β grain size on stress-induced martensitic transformation in β solution-treated 51.1Zr-40.2Ti-4.5Al-4.2V alloy was investigated by using XRD and TEM techniques. The results show that initial β grain size has a profound effect on the triggering stress of the stress-induced martensitic (SIM) transformation. The triggering stress increases with increasing initial β grain size. The SIM transformation significantly affects the deformation behavior of the alloy. A typical double yielding is observed in the stress-strain curves due to the occurrence of the SIM transformation. The curve of work hardening rate vs. true strain is divided into three stages for the samples with small β grain size. The work hardening rate at stage ΙΙ or ΙΙΙ decreases with increasing initial β grain size, which is attributed to the effect of the SIM transformation during a tensile test.