Method for developing enhanced texture in titanium alloys, and articles made thereby

A method for producing a titanium alloy piece that is highly textured along a selected direction, comprising the steps of:

• providing a piece of a titanium alloy having therein a sufficient type and amount of a dispersion of particles to inhibit beta phase recrystallization of grains having a random texture, during working of the piece at temperatures above a beta transus temperature, the titanium alloy being selected from the group consisting of an alpha titanium alloy and an alpha-beta titanium alloy;
• heating the titanium alloy piece to a selected temperature above the beta transus temperature to transform at least 90 percent of the microstructure to the body-centered cubic phase;
• and
• mechanically working the piece of titanium alloy sufficiently to achieve a ratio of an initial to final cross sectional area of at least about 6 to 1 in the selected direction at temperatures above the beta transus temperature.

A method for producing a titanium alloy piece that is highly textured along a selected direction, comprising the steps of:

• providing a piece of an alpha-beta titanium alloy having a composition that contains at least about 0.5 percent of an oxide of an element selected from the group consisting of a rare earth and yttrium;
• heating the titanium alloy piece to a selected temperature above the beta transus temperature to transform at least 90 percent of the microstructure to the body-centered cubic phase;
• and
• mechanically working the piece of titanium alloy sufficiently to achieve a ratio of an initial to final cross sectional area of at least about 6 to 1 in the selected direction at temperatures above its beta transus temperature.

A method for producing a titanium alloy article having highly textured microstructure along a selected direction, comprising the steps of:

• providing a titanium alloy powder which further includes at least one dispersoid-forming element selected form the group consisting of a rare earth and yttrium;
• compacting the powder at a selected elevated temperature to form a titanium alloy article having an alpha phase and a dispersoid based on the included dispersoid-forming element;
• heating the titanium alloy article to a temperature at which the dispersoid is stable above a beta transus temperature of the alloy so that the alloy microstructure is at least about 90 percent by volume body centered cubic phase;
• and
• mechanically working the article sufficiently to achieve a ratio of an initial to final cross sectional area of at least about 6 to 1 in the selected direction.