A research on the creep properties of titanium matrix composites rolled with different deformation degrees

•With enhancing deformation degree, creep rate of TMCs first decreases then increases.•TiB whiskers rotate to rolling direction with the increase of deformation degree.•The rotation of TiB whisker enhances the stress transfer effects of TiB whiskek.•Grain refinementhappens withtheincrease of deformation degree.•Grain refinementhascompeting effects on the creep rate.

(TiB + La2O3)/Ti composites were in situ synthesized and deformed with different deformation degrees. The influence of TiB whisker orientation and grain refinement on the creep properties of titanium matrix composites (TMCs) are discussed. The creep test reveals that the steady state creep rate of TMCs first decreases and then increases with the increase of deformation degree, which can be attributed to competing effects: TiB whisker rotating to the rolling direction, α plate grain boundary hindering and pinning dislocations can all decrease the creep rate, however, dislocation movement on the α plate grain boundary and dislocation emitting from the α plate grain boundary can both increase the creep rate.