Stress release-induced interfacial twin boundary ω phase formation in a β type Ti-based single crystal displaying stress-induced α” martensitic transformation

Abstract The ω phase transformation in numerous group IV transition metals plays a key role to change the phase stability and modify mechanical properties, although its formation mechanisms and effect to accommodate strains are still unclear. A β single crystal of β-type Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn alloy (wt. %) is used to investigate the aforementioned problems. This alloy displays a β to α” stress-induced martensitic transformation, which is reversible and leads to superelasticity. Profiles obtained from in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction during cyclic tensile tests reveal definitely the appearance of ω phase due to applied stress releasing after unloading while these identified ω peaks shall vanish totally on subsequent loading. TEM microstructural observations show its morphology as thin layer locating on the boundary of {1 1 2} β twins coinciding well with the feature of interfacial twin boundary (ITB) ω phase, which is proved to be formed passively during the reversion of {1 1 0} α” twins. The martensitic twinning components of {1 1 0} α” are indeed confirmed from crystallographic reconstructions based on the orientation relationship between the β and α” phases. A geometrical model is hence schematically used to analyze in details the orientation relationships between both deformation {1 1 2} β twins and ITB-ω phase, as well as with the original {1 1 0} α” twinning.