Acquisition of recrystallization information using optical metallography in a metastable beta titanium alloy

The precipitates of α phase cooled from recrystallization annealing temperature were rather inhomogeneous from grain to grain in a metastable β titanium alloy. Electron backscatter diffraction technique (EBSD) had confirmed that inhomogeneous distribution of α precipitates was directly related to nonuniform recrystallization (or recovery). The accelerated precipitation kinetics in the deformed regions may be explained in terms of the increased number of nucleation sites provided by the substructure. Thus, the recrystallized and deformed regions can be easily distinguished by optical metallography. - Highlights: • Inhomogeneous distribution of α precipitates was related to recrystallization. • Recrystallized and deformed grains can be distinguished by optical metallography. • This method may be extended to other metastable β titanium alloys.