New insights into the phase transformations to isothermal ω and ω-assisted α in near β-Ti alloys

For multicomponent near-β alloys, we have investigated the mechanisms responsible for the β-to-ω and ω-to-α phase transformations upon isothermal ageing at 573 K. Experimental evidence from atom probe tomography and aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy indicates that the formation of isothermal ω involves a structural reconstruction assisted by nanoscale spinodal decomposition of the β matrix, prior to the specific chemistry change required to form ω, rather than a mixed-mode process with structure and chemistry changes occurring simultaneously as has been previously suggested. First, incommensurate embryonic ω evolve via a displacive mechanism within Mo-lean regions created by second-order coherent spinodal decomposition of the β matrix. The subtle spinodal decomposition in β and chemistry of embryonic ω are carefully analysed by an advanced atom probe data analysis algorithm. When the size of embryonic ɷ exceeds a critical value, commensurate isothermal ɷ forms through the exit of the other alloying solutes. O-rich regions present at the isothermal ω/β interface provide potent sites for the formation of α. The concurrent compositional partitioning of solutes in ɷ and α indicates the transformation from ω to α involves both a rapid lattice reconstruction at the ω/α interface and a slow Al diffusion at the α/β, therefore a mixed-mode displacive-diffusive process. This study provides novel experimental evidence to understand the much-disputed transformation processes and elucidate the mechanisms responsible for these important phase transformations.