In this study, high strain rate tension tests are conducted to determine and compare the dynamic mechanical behaviors and deformation mechanisms of different phase composition α-β metastable β-Ti alloys using a split Hopkinson tension bar. Two typical bimodal equiaxed αp + β and lamellar αs + β Ti-45551 alloy microstructures are formed through different hot working and thermal processing for investigating the effect of phase composition or microstructure on mechanical properties and strain rate sensitivity. It is demonstrated that dislocation nucleation and motion in the α/β phase and dislocation tangle or pile up at the α/β interface are typical deformation modes in both of the typical dual-phase Ti alloys at quasi-static loading conditions. Under dynamic loading, both the strength and ductility show a clearly positive strain rate dependence, which is directly related to dislocation activation in the α + β Ti-45551 alloy. Based on microstructure characterizations, it is shown that deformation twinning starts to become a major deformation mechanism in equiaxed αp + β microstructures under dynamic loading conditions. However, deformation twins are not favored in the lamellar αs + β Ti-45551 alloy due to its nano phase size. Finally, the mechanical behaviors and strain rate sensitivity are strongly dependent on the phase composition of metastable β-Ti alloys.
Keywords: mechanical behavior; metastable β-Ti alloys; phase composition; stain rate sensitivity.