Papers by Keyword: Solute Drag Creep

Abstract: It is widely accepted that the dominant deformation mechanism of fine-grained superplasticity is through grain boundary sliding (GBS) that occurs in fine-grained materials. However, it has been reported that in “Class I” solid solution alloys, superplastic-like behavior controlled by trans-granular deformation occurs by solute drag creep. In this study, we have investigated superplastic behavior in a fine-grained aluminum solid solution alloy with a thermally unstable microstructure. To obtain fine-grained microstructure, friction stir processing (FSP) was applied to a commercial 5083 aluminum (Al−Mg) alloy. An equiaxial fine-grained microstructure with a grain size of 7.4 μm was obtained after FSP; however, this microstructure was unstable at high temperatures. Generally, for fine-grained superplasticity or GBS to occur or continue, the fine-grained microstructure must be smaller than 10 μm during high-temperature deformation. However, a large elongation of over 200% was observed at high temperatures despite the occurrence of grain growth. From microstructural observations, it was determined that a fine-grained microstructure is maintained in the early stage of deformation, but at strain levels greater than 100%, trans-granular deformation occurs. The microstructural feature of this trans-granular deformation is similar to the deformation microstructure of solute drag creep observed in “Class I” solid solution alloys. This indicates that a change in the deformation mechanism from GBS to solute drag creep takes place during high-temperature deformation. Here, based on our observations on our model system, which is a thermally unstable aluminum solid solution alloy, we discuss the possibility of a superplastic elongation occurring by means of a transition of the deformation mechanism.

Abstract: In this study, the superplastic behavior on a fine-grained aluminum solid solution alloy consisting of thermally unstable microstructures was investigated. In order to obtain the fine-grained microstructure, friction stir processing (FSP) was applied to a commercial 5083 aluminum alloy. An equiaxial fine-grained microstructure of 7.8 mm was obtained after FSP, but this microstructure was thermally unstable at high temperatures. Commonly, for fine-grained superplasticity to occur (or to continue grain boundary sliding (GBS)), it is necessary to keep the fine-grained microstructure to less than 10 mm during the high-temperature deformation. However, in this study, a large elongation of over 200% was observed at high temperatures in spite of the occurrence of grain growth. From the microstructural observations, it was determined that the fine-grained microstructure was maintained until the early stage of deformation, but the transgranular deformation was observed at a strain of over 100%. The microstructural feature of the abovementioned transgranular deformation is similar to the deformation microstructure of the solute drag creep occurring in "Class I"-type solid solution alloys. This indicates that the deformation mechanism transition from GBS to the solute drag creep occurred during high-temperature deformation. Here, the possibility of occurrence of the superplastic elongation through deformation mechanism transition is discussed as a model of the thermally unstable aluminum solid solution alloy.

Abstract: Class-I or Class-A solid solutions are substitutional with a relatively large difference in size between the solute and solvent atoms. High-temperature deformation of these solid solutions causes uniform transgranular deformation because of the solute drag motion of dislocations. Consequently, enhanced ductility can be obtained regardless of grain size. In our research, we specifically investigated the effects of second-phase particles resulting from adding impurity atoms on the hot ductility; i.e., how the second-phase particles obstruct the solute drag motion of dislocations. In this study, the effect of Mn and Cr impurities on the high-temperature ductility of typical Class-I Al−Mg solid solutions is investigated. The results show that hot ductility in the basic Al−Mg alloy leads to an elongation to fracture of above 200% at 673 and 723 K. We found that the dominant deformation mechanism causing high ductility is solute drag creep. The hot ductility decreases when Cr is added to the basic alloy, but an elongation to fracture of above 200% can still be achieved by adding Mn, although the elongation is less than that of the basic alloy.

Abstract: Thermomechanical processing to enable superplasticity in AA5083 materials includes cold working followed by heating prior to hot blow forming. Upon heating for forming at 450°C, a B-type ({110}) rolling texture is replaced by a near-random texture with a weak superimposed cube orientation parallel to the sheet normal. The presence of refined grains 7 – 8μm in size reflects the predominance of particle-stimulated nucleation of recrystallization prior to forming. The subsequent evolution of microstructure, texture and cavitation behaviour during biaxial deformation in the solute drag creep (SDC) and grain boundary sliding (GBS) regimes will be presented.

Abstract: Complex sheet metal components can be formed from lightweight aluminum and magnesium sheet alloys using superplastic forming technologies. Superplastic forming typically takes advantage of the high strain-rate sensitivity characteristic of grain-boundary-sliding (GBS) creep to obtain significant ductility at high temperatures. However, GBS creep requires fine-grained materials, which can be expensive and difficult to manufacture. An alternative is provided by materials that exhibit solute-drag (SD) creep, a mechanism that also produces elevated values of strain-rate sensitivity. SD creep typically operates at lower temperatures and faster strain rates than does GBS creep. Unlike GBS creep, solute-drag creep does not require a fine, stable grain size. Previous work by Boissière et al. suggested that the Mg-Y-Nd alloy, essentially WE43, deforms by SD creep at temperatures near 400°C. The present investigation examines both tensile and biaxial deformation behavior of ElektronTM 43 sheet, which has a composition similar to WE43, at temperatures ranging from 400 to 500°C. Data are presented that provide additional evidence for SD creep in Elektron 43 and demonstrate the remarkable degree of biaxial strain possible under this regime (>1000%). These results indicate an excellent potential for producing complex 3-D parts, via superplastic forming, using this particular heat-treatable Mg alloy.