The effect of matrix strength on void nucleation and growth in a widmanstätten alpha-beta titanium alloy, CORONA-5

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study of the effect of matrix yield strength, at a constant Widmanstätten α microstructure, on the nucleation and growth of voids in an α-β titanium alloy, CORONA-5, Ti-5Al-4.5Mo-l.5Cr. Four microstructures with a retained β matrix and involving coarse or fine Widmanstätten α particles in coarse or fine β grains were used in different heat treatment conditions resulting in yield strengths from 765 to 1018 MPa. Void nucleation occurred atα/α boundaries, grain boundary α/matrix interfaces, α twin/matrix interfaces, and α twin/untwin boundaries. The void nucleation strain varied from 0 to 0.26 and was a function of both microstructure and yield strength. Void growth rates increased with yield strength for all microstructures except for those containing coarse α which decreased with yield strength. Intense shear was observed in colonies of fine α structures and was considered to be the cause of the observed rapid void growth rates in the fine β+ fine α microstructures. Surface cracking occurred in several aged conditions during straining. This cracking was attributed to strain concentration in α.