Torsion tests, on a 2014 ϩ 0.13Zr alloy, were performed at temperatures in the range 573 to 773 K under strain rates ranging from 10 Ϫ3 to 10 s Ϫ1 . Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) inspection was performed in order to establish the role of the hot deformation on the hardening second-phase particles. The pinning effect of Al 3 Zr particles was also investigated. At the testing temperatures, the Al 3 Zr particles were stable, and no significant statistic changes, in terms of density and mean size, occurred during the tests. Small Al 3 Zr dispersoid particles inhibit recrystallization by pinning the grain and subgrain boundaries during hot deformation. Yet, they are particularly resistant to dislocation shear microstructure mechanism. Grains were elongated and contained a large number of sub-grains a few microns in width.