Texture evolution, silicide precipitation and strength-ductility synergy in a novel α + β titanium alloy during radial forging

doi:10.1016/j.metadv.2026.02.011

Abstract

Abstract:

This study explored the microstructure evolution and strength-ductility synergy in a novel silicon-containing α + β titanium alloy Ti-5Al-7.5V-0.5Mo-0.5Zr-0.5Si (TC5751S) during radial forging. The results demonstrate that with the increase of radial forging deformation, the strength and plasticity of the alloy are simultaneously enhanced. At a deformation of 0.38, the alloy exhibited a tensile strength of 1120 MPa and an elongation of 21.5%. Strength enhancement was primarily attributed to grain refinement of the equiaxed α_p phase and increased Orowan strengthening from silicide precipitation. The improvement in ductility is mainly attributed to the increased globularization degree of the α_p grains and the weakened texture, which reduce the anisotropy of intragranular deformation, and the incompatibility of deformation between soft and hard-oriented grains, respectively, thereby enhancing the overall plastic deformation capability. Besides, the negligible effect of silicides on ductility was due to their consistently small size, resulting in minimal strain mismatch with the matrix. These results indicate that variations in deformation during radial forging can regulate the microstructure evolution of the alloy, thereby enhancing its strength and ductility.

Key words: Titanium alloy, Radial forging, Silicide, Microstructure, Tensile property

Jiaqi Wu, Jinhua Dai, Chuan Liu, Jiabao Guo, Songkuan Zhao, Fengtian Yu, Yiheng Han, Wentao Chen, Jinshan Li, Bin Tang. Texture evolution, silicide precipitation and strength-ductility synergy in a novel α + β titanium alloy during radial forging[J]. Metals Advances, 2026, 43: 21-30.

Figures/Tables 9

Table 1. Actual chemical compositions of TC5751S alloy (wt%).

Ti	Al	V	Mo	Zr	Si	Fe	O
Bal.	5.340	7.560	0.518	0.515	0.422	0.242	0.153

Fig. 1. (a) Diagram of the radial forging process; (b) schematic diagram of forged bars with different radial forging deformation; (c) sampling position diagram; (d) low-magnification SEM image; (e) high-magnification SEM image.

Fig. 2. (a-f) Microstructure of forged TC5751S alloy bar; (g-i) mean aspect ratio of αp; (j-l) mean size of αp.

Fig. 3. (a) Average size and volume fraction of silicides; (b) TEM bright field (BF) image of silicide with SAED spot inserted; (c) EDS mapping of silicide in (b); (d-f) silicides of forged TC5751S alloy bar.

Fig. 4. (a, b) Tensile properties of as-forged TC5751S alloy bar with different radial forging deformation; (c) relationship between tensile strength and elogation of representative α + β titanium alloys in the forged state (TC11 [18]; TC4 [19]; Ti6242S [20]; Ti575 [21], [22]; TC21 [23], [24]); (d) statistic results of tensile properties.

Fig. 5. (a-c) Fracture morphologies of forged TC5751S alloy bar; (d-f) micrographs of the central fiber areas.

Fig. 6. (a-c) Distribution of αp grain orientation spread in forged TC5751S alloy bar; (d) statistics of GOS values; (e-g) grain boundary statistics of forged TC5751S alloy bar; (h) statistics of low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) and high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs).

Fig. 7. Texture evolution of different radial forging deformations: (a–c) IPF figure; (d–f) SF of the basal slip {0001} <$ 11 \overline{2} 0$>; (g–i) SF of the prismatic slip {$ 1 \overline{1} 00$} <$1 \overline{2} 0$>; (j–l) Pole figure.

Fig. 8. (a, b) Dislocation activities around silicide; (c) micrograph of silicides near the fracture surface with deformation of 0.38.

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