Cryogenic equal channel angular pressing of commercially pure titanium: microstructure and properties

Cylindrical samples of CP Titanium (Grade 2) were deformed by one, two and three passes of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) each at temperatures 77, 300 and 575 K, respectively. The microstructure of samples processed at 77 K shows retardation of recrystallisation, high density of dislocations and deformation twins, diffuse and obscure grain boundaries compare to microstructure of samples processed at room and high temperature, where recrystallised ultrafine equiaxed grains are observed. Mechanical properties for all structural states of Ti were studied by microhardness measurements at 300 K and uniaxial compression at temperatures 300, 170, 77 and 4.2 K. Higher levels of ECAP deformation (more passes of ECAP) lead to higher values of strength and hardness at all studied temperatures. Decrease of ECAP temperature leads to increase of strength characteristics in all cases. Influence of ECAP and compression temperatures on possible changes of deformation mechanism are discussed.