HOT DEFORMATION IN DISPERSION-STRENGTHENED ALUMINUM-ALLOYS AND COMPOSITES

Hot forming and superplasticity in powder metallurgy aluminum alloys a nd composites is reviewed. The effects of alloy composition, particula te composition, size, and size distribution is summarized. The role of climb distance for recovery is described in connection with the size of strengthening phases. In materials with fine strengthening phases o n the order of one micron or less, high strain rate superplastic defor mation processes are likely. However, the quality of superplastic defo rmation depends on the prior processing history, and these effects are reviewed. Very few data describing the effects of hot forming history on post-forming properties exist, but some results emerging in the li terature are compared.