Characteristics of the transition from grain-boundary sliding to solute drag creep in superplastic AA5083

Superplastic tensile ductility has been attained when specially-processed AA5083 materials are strained in tension at relatively high strain rates, in the range of the transition from grain-boundary sliding (GBS) to solute drag creep (SDC) control of deformation. Quick plastic forming (QPF) technology involves deformation at such strain rates. and the relative contributions of GBS and SDC to the strain during deformation in this strain rate regime have been examined in this investigation. The additive, independent contributions of GBS and SDC to the elevated temperature deformation of fine-grained materials are reviewed. The transition from GBS to SDC in grain-refined AA5083 materials was evaluated by several methods, including the assessment of initial transients during, straining and of transients during strain-rate change tests; the strain-rate dependence of the flow stress; the dependence of ductility on strain rate; flow localization behavior and fracture mode: cavitation growth; the evolution of microstructure and microtexture during deformation; and comparison with phenomenological models for the GBS-to-SDC transition.