Promoted phase transformation of α2 to O in Ti2AlNb alloy with improved mechanical performance via laser shock peening

[Display omitted] •After heat treatment at 600 ℃, the phase transformation from α2 phase to O phase was observed in the Ti2AlNb alloy treated by LSP.•The improvement of mechanical properties is attributed to the phase transformation from coarse brittle α2 phases to ductile and refined O phases.•This work provides a new method to promote phase transformation in Ti2AlNb alloy, which may be used to improve other materials' mechanical properties. Phase transformation and microstructure change are important ways for the mechanical property improvement of Ti2AlNb alloys, such as ductility, tensile strength, and fracture toughness. However, the brittle α2 phase is stable, and phase transformation is difficult to be introduced at a lower temperature. This seriously affects the mechanical properties of Ti2AlNb alloy. Here, we propose a new method to promote phase transformation in Ti2AlNb alloy by deformation-induced defects through laser shock peening (LSP). The results show that after LSP, high-density defects were observed in the α2 phase, such as dislocations and stacking faults (SFs). After heat treatment at 600 ℃, the phase transformation from α2 phase to O phase was observed in the Ti2AlNb alloy treated by LSP, forming twinned and chessboard-like morphologies with nanoscale grain size. High-density defects induced by LSP reduced the thermodynamic barrier of phase transformation from α2 phase to O phase. LSP promoted the lattice distortion and Nb element diffusion in Ti2AlNb alloy at high temperatures. This work provides a new method to promote phase transformation in Ti2AlNb alloy, which may be used to improve other materials' mechanical properties.