Enhanced mechanical compatibility of submicrocrystalline Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy

This study aimed to achieve enhanced mechanical compatibility of Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy by producing submicrocrystalline microstructure without imposing severe strains. In order to find the optimum processing conditions, a series of compression tests was performed for initial martensite microstructure in strain ranges up to 0.8 and 1.4, the strain rate range of 10−3 to 1 s−1 and the temperature range of 500–700 °C. Based on the microstructural analysis, the submicrocrystalline (∼0.4 μm) alloy consisting of high-angle grain boundaries was produced via dynamic globularization at temperature of 600 °C, equivalent strain rate of 10−1 s−1 and strain of 1.4, which showed about 25% enhanced mechanical compatibility as compared to the conventionally produced ones. The formation of submicrocrystalline microstructure at relatively low strain was investigated by examining the microstructure before and after dynamic globularization.