Spheroidization and dynamic recrystallization mechanisms of Ti-55511 alloy with bimodal microstructures during hot compression in α+β region

Abstract Spheroidization and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) mechanisms of a Ti-55511 alloy during hot compression in α+β region is investigated. It is found that the spheroidization of lamellar α phases and DRX of β phases, which are obviously influenced by deformation conditions, are the main softening mechanisms. The spheroidization fraction of lamellar α phases first increases with the raised temperature or strain rate. However, the spheroidization fraction of lamellar α phases begins to drop at about 700 °C as the strain rate is higher than 0.01 s−1, and the maximum spheroidization fraction of lamellar α phase is about 2.3%. This phenomenon is attributed to the Implanting-Mechanism, which is induced by the common or close orientation relationships of the spheroidized and equiaxed α phases, as well as few dislocations between the spheroidized and equiaxed α phases. Contrarily, the lamellar α phases are obstructed from equiaxed α phases by a mass of dislocations. Additionally, the DRX degree of β phases increases with the reduced temperature or the raised strain rate.