This study investigated the effect of the strain path followed during the unidirectional and two-step cross-rolling on the microstructure, texture, and mechanical properties of Nb-10Hf-1Ti refractory alloy (1 mm thick sheet). It has been demonstrated for the first time that the refractory alloy Nb-10Hf-1Ti can be smoothly cross-rolled like unidirectional rolling. The cross-rolling results in a stronger texture as compared to the unidirectional rolling. The development of a strong texture during cross-rolling as a result of a change in strain path is due to a partial texture transition from the γ-fiber to the α-fiber and strengthening of the texture components \(\left\{001\right\}\langle 110\rangle\) . The grains are observed to be significantly finer after unidirectional rolling as compared to cross-rolling. A mixture of fine and coarse grains is observed after cross-rolling. The finer grains are related to the γ-fiber (〈111〉IIND)) while the coarser grains are associated with α-fiber (〈110〉IIRD). The visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) model establishes that the average number of active slip systems is significantly higher for cross-rolled samples than the unidirectional rolled. The presence of a higher number of active slip systems in cross-rolled relaxes the deformation constraints, resists grain fragmentation, and results in coarse as well as fine grains. The unidirectional rolling shows less deformation constraint and a higher extent of grain fragmentation which results in overall finer grains. The higher dislocation density, higher number of slip systems, and formation of cellular dislocation network results in higher work hardening of the cross-rolled sample. The highly work-hardened cross-rolled sample displays early attainment of saturation stress and results in moderately higher tensile strength compared to the unidirectional rolled sample.
