The electron microscope has been used to study the diffusionless β → β + ω transformation occurring in certain titanium alloys at low temperatures. Evidence for such a transformation was obtained by Cometto et al by means of x-ray diffraction and resistivity measurements on a Ti-Nb alloy. The present work shows that this type of transformation can occur in several Ti alloys of suitable composition, and some of the details of the transformation are elucidated by means of direct observation in the electron microscope.Thin foils were examined in a Philips EM-300 electron microscope equipped with a uniaxial tilt, liquid nitrogen cooled, cold stage and a high resolution dark field device. Selected area electron diffraction was used to identify the phases present and the ω-phase was imaged in dark field by using a (101)ω reflection. Alloys were water quenched from 950°C, thinned, and mounted between copper grids to minimize temperature gradients in the foil.
