Phase transitions in metallic alloys driven by the high pressure torsion

•• Al-, Cu- and Ni-based alloys were deformed using high pressure torsion.• Phase transitions in deformed materials were studied.• Martin’s idea of effective temperature was used for their description.• Effective temperature was determined using the equilibrium phase diagrams.

Severe plastic deformation can lead to the phase transformations in the materials. Even the severe plastic deformation at ambient temperature is frequently equivalent to the heat treatment at a certain elevated temperature (effective temperature). However, if the real annealing at the elevated temperature leads to the grain growth, the severe plastic deformation leads to strong grain refinement. In this review the methods of determination of effective temperature after high-pressure torsion of metallic alloys are discussed.