Effect of Electropulsing Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Deformed ZrTiAlV Alloy

In contrast to conventional heat treatment processes, electropulsing not only heats an alloy, but also exerts some other positive effects during the heating process. In this paper, the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of a deformed Zr40Ti5Al4V alloy after electropulsing treatment were investigated. The results showed that when the charging voltage was 2 kV, there was a slight decrease in dislocation density due to the electron wind which softened the alloy even though the highest temperature of the specimen during the treatment was only 86 °C. Increasing the charging voltage to 6 kV not only further increased the heating temperature, but accelerated the phase transformation process of α″ → β → α. The presence of the α phase strengthened the alloy but notably deteriorated its ductility. A full and refined β phase microstructure could be obtained when the charging voltage was increased to 8 kV. This simultaneously increased the strength and ductility of the alloy.