Effect of predeformation on globularization of Ti–5Al–2Sn–2Zr–4Mo–4Cr during annealing

Abstract

Abstract The microstructure evolution during annealing of Ti–5Al–2Sn–2Zr–4Mo–4Cr alloy was investigated. The results show that for the alloy compressed at 810 °C and 1.0 s−1 deformation amount (height reduction) 20% and 50% and annealed at 810 °C, thermal grooving by penetration of β phase is sufficient during the first 20 min annealing, resulting in a sharp increase in globularization fraction. The globularization fraction continuously increases with the increase of annealing time, and a height reduction of 50% leads to a near globular microstructure after annealing for 4 h. For the alloy with deformation amount of 50% by compressing at 810 °C, 0.01 s−1 and then annealed at 810 °C, thermal grooving is limited during the first 20 min of annealing and large quantities of high-angle grain boundaries (HABs) remain. With long time annealing, the chain-like α grains are developed due to the HABs, termination migration and Ostwald ripening. The present results suggest that a higher strain rate and a larger height reduction are necessary before annealing to achieve a globular microstructure of Ti–5Al–2Sn–2Zr–4Mo–4Cr.