Preferential Slip Initiation in Interlayer β During Compression of a Widmannstätten-Structure Titanium Alloy

Based on quasi in-situ observation on the slip trace during compression of a widmannstätten-structure titanium alloy, it was firstly found that the slip initiated in the interlayer β prior to lamellar α within one α colony. Interestingly, the preferential slip initiation in interlayer β did not occur at the highest Schmid factor (SF). The slip transfer from interlayer β to lamellar α did not only require a good collaboration between SF and geometric compatability parameter (m'), but also need a large accumulation of deformation in interlayer β.