Grain size effect on stress-induced martensite in a metastable β-Ti alloy with ultrahigh strength and strain hardening rate

In the present work, the influence of β grain size on stress-induced martensite (SIM) was investigated in a metastable β-Ti alloy (Ti-4Mo-3Cr-1Fe-1Al). Samples with varying grain sizes were prepared by cold rolling and annealing. The triggering stress for SIM decreases with the grain size increase from 44 μm to 180 μm. Meanwhile, the yield strength increases with decreasing grain size, consistent with the Hall-Petch effect. Fine-grained samples formed a greater number of martensitic bands during deformation compared to coarse-grained samples, resulting in an ultra-high strain-hardening rate ∼4320 MPa. The deformation mechanism of the Ti-4Mo-3Cr-1Fe-1Al alloy consists of the ω to β transformation, SIM, martensite deformation twinning ({110}cc < 1–10>_α" and {130}<-310>_α" twins), reorientation of martensite and dislocation slip. Both the 44 μm and 59 μm samples exhibit ultra-high true tensile strengths (>1200 MPa), with a large work-hardening interval of nearly 600 MPa relative to the yield strength. This significant work-hardening capability is attributed to interfacial and dislocation strengthening arising from the dynamic formation of martensitic bands during deformation.