Strength-Ductility Synergy in a Metastable β Titanium Alloy by Stress Induced Interfacial Twin Boundary ω Phase at Cryogenic Temperatures

A β titanium alloy is an excellent candidate for cryogenic applications. In this study, the deformation behavior of Ti-36Nb-2Ta-3Zr-0.35O with cold swaging was investigated at cryogenic temperatures to verify its practical application value. The microstructure after tensile tests was observed by transmission electron microscope in order to reveal the cryogenic deformation mechanism. The results show that the mechanical properties of this alloy have a strong temperature dependence: an increase in strength with a non-monotonic trend (first increase and then decrease) in elongation is found when the temperature decreases from 297 K to 77 K. At 200 K, a strength-ductility synergy is obtained and is mainly due to the occurrence of {211} <11> mechanical twinning accompanied with the ω plate located at the twin boundaries, which is the first time it is detected in titanium alloy at a cryogenic temperature. However, at 77 K, martensitic transformation (β phase to α phase) is induced by the tensile deformation, leading to the increase of strength with a massive sacrifice of elongation. These findings provide insights for understanding the deformation mechanisms and optimizing the mechanical properties of titanium alloys at a cryogenic temperature.