The Ti-6 wt.% Al-4 wt.% V commercial alloys have exhibited an improved formability at cryogenic temperature when the alloys were heat-treated prior to the tests. The author was interested in further investigating this unusual ductile behavior which may be associated with the strain-induced transformation or twinning of the a phase, enhanced at lower temperatures. The starting materials, supplied by RMI Co., Niles, Ohio were rolled mill products in the form of 40 mil sheets. The microstructure of the as-received materials contained mainly ellipsoidal α grains measuring between 1 and 5μ. The β phase formed an undefined grain boundary around the a grains. The specimens were homogenized at 1050°C for one hour, followed by aging at 500°C for two hours, and then quenched in water to produce the α/β mixed microstructure.
Thermal engineering of optical mirrors for use at cryogenic temperature inside a LHC magnet cryostat
