This article, the second in a two-part series on titanium alloys, examines the effects of microtexture on deformation behavior, slip dislocations, and fatigue properties. Part I, which appeared in the April 2021 issue, described microstructural evolution processes that result in microtexture formation.

Despite decades of research, fundamental questions still exist regarding the role of microtexture on the deformation, fatigue, and fracture behavior of titanium alloys. This article describes the microstructural evolution processes that result in microtexture formation, while Part II of this series will further elaborate on the effects of microtexture on deformation behavior.

The use of coatings to enhance the performance of components is one of the most powerful tools in materials engineering. This article highlights some examples of how thermal spray technologies are used to enhance surface properties for selected applications and industries.

3D laser microscopy is opening new areas of study for metallic alloys and coatings in power generation applications. This article describes some case studies where laser microscopy has augmented, and in some cases replaced, metallic alloy characterization using optical microscopy or scanning electron microscopy.

This article describes the laser beam texturing (LBT) process and how LBT materials differ from those produced using traditional surface texturing techniques.