Large size (>10000 μm2) precipitate-free zones in the absence of microsegregation were observed in the near-β Ti-55531 titanium alloy after furnace cooling from high temperature and longtime annealing in the single-β phase field. To reveal the formation mechanism of the large size precipitate-free zone, continuous cooling and isothermal heat treatment were carried out to investigate the β-α phase transformation process. It was found that the large size precipitate free zone is attributed to the heterogeneous nucleation of α phase. The nucleation site evolves in three different modes: I-random nucleation inside the β grain, II-network nucleation inside the β grain and, III-heterogeneous nucleation on the precipitated α phase. Modes I and II lead to homogeneous transformed structure while Mode III results in the large size precipitate-free zone. Both modes II and III are promoted at high annealing temperature, rapid cooling above 600 °C or slow cooling below 600 °C. Mode II is common as it can minimize the strain energy in phase transformation. As a result, the formation of the large size precipitate-free zone is not deterministic.
Quench sensitivity of toughness in an Al alloy: Direct observation and analysis of failure initiation at the precipitate-free zone