Microstructural evolution and final properties of a cold-swaged multifunctional Ti–Nb–Ta–Zr–O alloy produced by a powder metallurgy route

Body centred cubic (BCC) β-phase multifunctional titanium alloys have been developed with a very unique combination of thermal and mechanical properties. In this investigation, a very low porosity Ti–36.8–Nb–2.7Zr–2.0Ta–0.44O (wt%) alloy was produced by powder sintering, hot forging, solution treatment and cold swaging. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the solution treated alloy revealed the presence of a small amount of ω-phase in a predominantly BCC β-phase matrix. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) of the swaged alloy revealed a highly elongated and fragmented microstructure, and a strong 〈110〉 fibre texture. TEM also revealed the existence of stress-induced twin lamella, dislocations and ω-phase. Consistent with previous studies on these types of alloys, the swaged alloy exhibited non-linear elasticity during tensile straining, low elastic modulus (45.4 GPa), high elastic limit (2.3%), high elongation to failure (8.1%), and a high yield strength (880 MPa) and tensile strength (940 MPa). The coefficient of thermal expansion was also low (∼5×10−6 K−1 between 50 and 300 °C) in this alloy.