Abstract
When commercial superplastic aluminium alloys were first under development it was concluded that to be successful the alloy should contain both a solid solution addition and a dispersion of fine, thermally stable dispersoids. In contrast to early beliefs, the present work demonstrates that a simple Al–1 wt.%Zr alloy can exhibit good superplastic performance despite the absence of a solid solution element. The starting material was in the form of ∼1 mm diameter particles produce via impulse atomisation that conferred a solidification rate ∼103 K s−1. After extrusion consolidation, heat treatment to produce a fine distribution of metastable Al3Zr precipitates, and rolling, the resulting sheet exhibited superplastic ductilities in excess of 500% at a strain rate of 10−1 s−1. An EBSD study of the deformation behaviour demonstrated substantial grain refinement resulting from dynamic recrystallisation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 291-297 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Materials Science and Engineering A |
Volume | 444 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
Early online date | 16 Oct 2006 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 25 Jan 2007 |
Keywords
- Superplasticity
- Aluminium alloy
- Dynamic recrystallisation
- Rapid solidification
- Zirconium