In-situ synchrotron-based high energy X-ray diffraction (HEXRD) and ex-situ Gleeble tests were conducted to investigate the deformation behavior of the βo(ωo) phase in a Ti4Al3Nb alloy. In samples compressed at 600 and 800 °C, the brittle ωo phase deforms mostly elastically, resulting in the failure of the Ti4Al3Nb alloy by premature fracture. In a sample deformed at 900 °C, the ωo phase mostly transforms into the βo phase under uniaxial loading. Moreover, the ductility of a Ti4Al3Nb alloy is largely enhanced at this temperature. In a sample deformed at 1000 °C, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) of the βo phase extensively takes place. Direction 1 (D1) and Direction 2 (D2) deviating from the loading direction with an angle of 65° ± 5° and 15° ± 5° are selected to analyze the lattice strain evolution of (110)βo lattice planes. At the late stage of macro strain hardening, deformed[removed]βo//D1 oriented grains bear a higher load due to the occurrence of DRX in[removed]βo//D2 oriented grains. Subsequently, DRX continues in[removed]βo//D1 oriented βo grains. The coordinated deformation of βo grains ensures the good deformability of a Ti4Al3Nb alloy at 1000 °C.
In modern β-solidified TiAl alloys, the decomposition of α2 phase is frequently observed during heat treatment or high-temperature deformation of the alloys. In this study, high-temperature deformation and decomposition mechanisms of α2 phase in a Ti-45Al-8.5Nb-0.2B-0.2W-0.02Y alloy are investigated. In a sample deformed at 800 °C, the precipitation of βo(ωo) phase is observed within the equiaxed α2 phase. The nucleation of ωo particles within the βo matrix indicates the α2→βo→ωo transformation. In addition, numerous γ phase precipitates form within the βo(ω) areas. The α2 lamellae decompose into ultrafine (α2+γ) lamellae and coarsened γ lamellae via α2→α2+γ and α2→γ transformation, respectively. Moreover, the ωo phase nucleates within the ultrafine lamellae via α2→ωo transformation. However, in a sample deformed at 1000 °C, the nucleation of βo particles is sluggish, which is caused by the efficient release of the internal stress via dynamic recrystallization (DRX). These results indicate that complex phase transformations can be introduced by the decomposition of α2 phase in TiAl alloys with a high amount of β-stabilizing elements.