A metastable beta-titanium alloy, Ti15Mo was subjected to equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). The resulting microstructure of the material is inhomogeneous consisting of micrometer size beta-grains with deformed bands containing ultra-fine beta-grains.
The ECAP-deformed sample was subjected to thermal treatment in order to elucidate the difference in morphology of the alpha-phase precipitation in deformed and non-deformed materials. The alpha-phase formation is accelerated in areas with higher concentration of lattice defects.
The detail investigation by transmission electron microscopy revealed equixed alpha-phase formation in deformed bands. In the transition area between deformed band and beta-matrix grain boundary alpha-phase forms while in the interior of the beta-grains the alpha-phase precipitation is suppressed.