Near-Iinear elastic deformation behavior of a novel Zr-Ti-Nb-Sn alloy with multi-phase microstructures ofβ,α"andα'phases

In this work,a multi-phase Zr-30Ti-7Nb-4Sn alloy with large near-linear elastic deformability was prepared by the solution treatment plus pre-straining(S TP)treatment,and the underlying mechanism accountable for the near-linear elastic deformation was systematically clarified.It was found that the Zr-30Ti-7Nb-4Sn alloy was composed ofβ,α″andα′phases,and numerous dislocations were formed in the alloy specimen after STP treatment.With the retarding effect of high-density dislocations,the stress-induced martensitic(SIM)transformation fromβtoα″phases took place homogeneously and continuously during loading,in conjunction with the occurrence of elastic deformation ofβ,α″andα′phases.Under the entire tensile procedure,no observable phase transformation occurred betweenα′martensite andβphase.Consequently,the near-linear elastic deformation capability in STP Zr-30Ti-7Nb-4Sn alloy is mainly ascribed to the coupling actions of consecutiveβ→α″SIM transformation and intrinsic elastic deformation ofβ,α″andα′phases.These experimental results provide a basis for designing and developing novel multi-phase Zr-based alloys that possess large near-linear deformability.