A [211]-oriented niobium single crystal was deformed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at room temperature using the route Bc to a total strain of 9.2. A sharp cube texture develops after ECAP processing. The deformed samples were annealed in vacuum from 400ºC (673 K) to 900ºC (1173 K) for 1 h to evaluate their microstructural stability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to image the microstructures of as-deformed and annealed specimens. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was employed to determine the respective microtextures before and after annealing. Coarsening of the microstructure occurs at a maximum rate at 550ºC (823 K) due to discontinuous recrystallization. Normal grain growth replaces discontinuous recrystallization as the main coarsening mechanism above 700ºC (973 K).

The direct three-dimensional characterization of opaque materials through serial sectioning makes possible to visualize and better quantify a material microstructure, using classical metallographic techniques coupled with computer-aided reconstruction. Titanium alloys are used as biomaterials for bone implants because of its excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility and enhanced corrosion resistance. The Ti-6Al-4V alloy (in wt. (%)) with porous microstructure permits the ingrowths of new-bone tissues improving the fixation bone/implant. This is important to understand connectivity, morphology and spatial distribution of pores in microstructure. The Ti-6Al-4V alloy compacts were produced by powder metallurgy and sintered at three distinct temperatures (1250, 1400 and 1500 °C) to obtain distinct microstructures in terms of residual porosity. The visualization of the reconstructed 3D microstructure provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the porosity of Ti6Al4V alloy (volume fraction and pore morphology).

O presente trabalho reporta os resultados da caracterização microestrutural realizada em bandas de cisalhamento adiabáticas induzidas num aço IF estabilizado ao titânio, visando a avaliar a formação e o crescimento de danos. O material foi deformado via compressão dinâmica sob altas taxas de deformação (> 5,0×10(4) s-1) numa barra de impacto de Hopkinson a -196ºC. A observação detalhada das regiões de cisalhamento e das superfícies de fratura foi realizada via microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). A recristalização dinâmica no interior das bandas de cisalhamento adiabáticas foi o evento precursor, que permitiu um caminho para a propagação das fissuras. Pode-se concluir que a fratura do material foi o resultado de um processo de clivagem dirigido por maclas de deformação e bandas de deslizamento.

The present work reports the results of microstructural characterization performed in adiabatic shear bands forced in titanium-stabilized IF steel to evaluate damage formation and growth. Dynamic compression tests were done at -196ºC under large strain rates (> 5.0×104 s-1) with the aid of a Split Hopkinson Bar. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to investigate the shear regions and the fracture surfaces in detail. The dynamic recrystallization within ASB was the precursor event and provided a path for crack propagation. It can be concluded that the failure of the material was the result of the cleavage process driven by the presence of deformation twins and slip bands.

O recozimento de materiais com grãos grosseiros permite observar importantes efeitos de orientação na recristalização. Amostras do aço inoxidável ferrítico AISI 430 estabilizado ao nióbio e com estrutura colunar de grãos foram deformadas até reduções de 50 e 80% e recozidas em temperaturas variando de 300 a 1100°C para avaliação do amolecimento e da cinética de recristalização. As amostras compreendem a seção longitudinal de uma placa obtida via lingotamento contínuo. A laminação foi realizada a morno (<FONT FACE=Symbol>»</FONT> 480°C), numa configuração na qual os grãos colunares permaneceram alinhados com a direção normal (contornos de grão paralelos à DN). A caracterização microestrutural das amostras utilizou microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) no modo de elétrons retroespalhados. Os resultados mostram que o tamanho de grão recristalizado varia localmente de região para região, indicando efeitos de orientação importantes.

Annealing of coarse-grained materials allows the observation of important orientation effects during recrystallization. Samples of the niobium-stabilized ferritic stainless steel 430 with columnar grain structure have been deformed up to reductions of 50% and 80% and annealed at temperatures ranging from 300°C up to 1100°C to evaluate its softening behavior and the recrystallization kinetics. Samples comprise the longitudinal section of a continuous-cast slab. Warm rolling has been performed (<FONT FACE=Symbol>»</FONT> 480°C) in such a configuration that the columnar grains are aligned with the normal direction (grain boundaries parallel to the ND). Microstructural characterization has been performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in the backscattered electrons mode. Results show that the recrystallized grain size varies locally from one region to another indicating significant orientation effects.

The thermal decomposition of titanium hydride powder (delta-phase) to titanium (alpha-phase) was investigated by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) in high vacuum. The delta-to-alpha phase transformation was followed in situ by HTXRD at temperatures varying from room temperature up to 1000 °C. The transformation was also analyzed as a function of time at isothermal conditions from 450 to 650 °C. The results of TGA show that the decomposition of the titanium hydride becomes significant at about 450 °C. Above 500 °C the decomposition is completed in times shorter than 50 minutes. The apparent activation energy for hydrogen desorption was found to be 63 ± 6 kJ.mol-1.

The evolution in the understanding of the recrystallization phenomena is summarized in this paper. Initially the main developments concerning recrystallization are presented from a historical perspective. Definitions and concepts involving recrystallization are presented regarding it as a solid-state reaction that occurs by nucleation and growth. The recrystallization nucleation mechanisms are subsequently discussed. Finally, the growth step is highlighted, emphasizing boundary and sub-boundary mobilities and the forces acting on the high angle grain boundaries that sweep the microstructure during recrystallization.