Thermal stability of Ti–45 wt % Nb alloy at isothermal annealing

Experimental data of thermal stability of the microstructure and mechanical properties (exemplified by the microhardness tests) of the ultrafine grained (UFG) Ti–45 wt % Nb alloy after long-term thermal influence were presented in the paper. UFG structure in the alloy was formed with the severe plastic deformation (SPD) method. It was proved that the SPD method including the multiple abc-pressing and multi-pass rolling and further pre-recrystallizing annealing enhances the formation of UFG structures with the mean element size of 0.25 µm. Samples of Ti–45 wt % Nb alloy in UFG state were annealed at 350 and 400°C during 1, 5, 10, 24, 120, 240 and 360 hours. It was shown that the UFG structure was stable after annealing at 350 and 400°C as a result of thermal influence within the time range up to 360 hours. Stability of mechanical properties depended on the temperature and duration of annealing, i.e. microhardness of 3200 MPa was remained during 120 hours of annealing at 350°C, while microhardness of 3000 MPa was remained during 10 hours of annealing at 400°C.