Superplasticity and deformation mechanisms in NiAl(-Mo) alloy

The mechanical behaviour and microstructural evolution in tension of NiAl-9Mo eutectic alloy at 1100degreesC and strain rates from 10(-5) to 10(-3) s(-1) have been investigated. High values of strain rate sensitivity index, but relatively small elongations between 150 and 200%, have been observed. Tensile specimens with various strains were quenched in water to preserve the dislocation structures for TEM examination. The TEM results show that the dislocation configuration and density change significantly with an increase in strain rate, and therefore correspond to different deformation mechanisms. At a low strain rate (5(.)5 x 10(-5) s(-1)), the dislocation density is relatively low and dislocation activity is regarded as an accommodation mechanism for grain boundary sliding. In contrast, the high density of dislocations as well as clear subboundaries observed in grains at a high strain rate (5(.)5 x 10(-4) s(-1)) suggest that the dislocations are active directly in response to the applied stress as well as participating in the relaxation process of grain boundary sliding by subboundary formation. Thus, grain boundary sliding is mainly responsible for superplastic deformation at a low strain rate, while superlastic deformation at a high strain rate is controlled by the combined operation of both grain boundary sliding and dynamic recovery.