This review summarizes the current knowledge on the α″ martensite transformation in metastable β Ti alloys under different stress state conditions gained using various in situ techniques that range from the meso- to the nanoscale. Compared to ex situ observations, in situ observation can be conducted on a single region while changing external stimuli, and are therefore capable of elucidating the interim microstructural evolution. The strengths and shortcomings of different techniques to give insight into the martensitic transformation are identified. Both the formation of α″ martensite and its reversion on load removal are addressed. The phenomena of α″ martensite formation including preferential nucleation sites, its growth, interactions, and variant selection are described. The review also discusses the details of the macro- and micro-level mechanical behavior caused by the phase transformation and highlights the research questions for further investigation.
A versatile generic framework for parent grain reconstruction from fully or partially transformed child microstructures has been integrated into the open-source crystallographic toolbox MTEX. The framework extends traditional parent grain reconstruction, phase transformation and variant analysis to all parent-child crystal symmetry combinations. The inherent versatility of the universally applicable parent grain reconstruction methods and the ability to conduct in-depth variant analysis are showcased via example workflows that can be programmatically modified by users to suit their specific applications. This is highlighted by three applications, namely α′-to-γ reconstruction in a lath martensitic steel, α-to-β reconstruction in a Ti alloy, and a two-step reconstruction from α′ to ϵ to γ in a twinning and transformation-induced plasticity steel. Advanced orientation relationship discovery and analysis options, including variant analysis, are demonstrated via the add-on funct