Complex investigation of deformation twinning in γ-TiAl by TEM and neutron diffraction

A near-gamma TiAl based alloy with 2 at% of Nb was investigated by means of collaborative research based on transmission electron microscopy and in-situ neutron diffraction techniques with the aim to study mechanical twinning and its role within the mechanisms governing fatigue response and material properties. In-situ neutron diffraction measurements were performed during low cycle fatigue straining at room temperature. Induced lattice strain related to the formation of deformation twins was detected and used to follow changes in the macroscopic material response caused by the twinning process during cycling. A microscopic insight was realised by using several transmission electron microscopy techniques to reveal in detail an internal deformation microstructure of the material at the beginning as well as at the end of the fatigue life. The study was focused on the first loading cycles where the material shows intense cyclic hardening. The effect of mechanical twinning on the material behaviour at several stages of the fatigue life is discussed for two different total strain amplitudes of 0.2% and 0.4%. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.