Study of the α/β phase transformation of Zy-4 in presence of applied stresses at heating:: analysis of the inherited microstructures and textures

The alpha --> beta --> alpha phase transformation of Zy-4, as well as the inherited microstructures and textures have been investigated. in presence (or not) of applied tensile stress during the anisothermal alpha --> beta transformation. Without applied stress, the beta treatment led to an inherited a texture sharper than the initial one. A detailed analysis of this texture change revealed a strong variant selection in the beta --> alpha transformation. With applied stress. transformation plasticity as well as creep of the phase were clearly identified on the dilatometric curves, Moreover, the sharpness of the inherited a texture was significantly reduced. This has been related to a strong reduction of variant selection in the beta --> alpha transformation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.