Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Springback of Ti-Nb Alloys Modified by Mo Addition

Abstract

A series of Ti-(38-2x)Nb-xMo (wt.%) alloys are designed using 1% Mo to replace 2% Nb in order to gradually increase the β stability and obtain a low springback. The α″ phase is exhibited in Ti-38Nb and suppressed with an increasing Mo content. The Ti-38Nb and Ti-34Nb-2Mo alloys show stress-induced α″ martensite transformations during cold rolling and double yielding behavior in tensile tests. The Ti-30Nb-4Mo and Ti-26Nb-6Mo alloys exhibit nonlinear deformation owing to the metastable β phase. With an increase in the Mo content, Young’s modulus increases slightly from 68 GPa in Ti-38Nb to 73 GPa in Ti-26Nb-6Mo, owing to the increase in β stability. Mo shows a solution strengthening effect that gradually increases the tensile strength. Although a higher Young’s modulus was not observed to be induced through deformation in Ti-(38-2x)Nb-xMo alloys, low springback was obtained according to the three-point bending loading–unloading test. In particular, the Ti-38Nb and Ti-34Nb-2Mo alloys with stress-induced α″ martensite transformations exhibit low yielding stress and are thus easily deformed. The deformed α″ phase hardly reverts to the β matrix after unloading, and therefore, the plastic deformation is maintained.