New process produces superplastic aerospace/autamotive aluminum alloy

A new thermomechanical process has been developed which renders an Al-Mg-Si -Cu alloy superplastic, making this material a candidate for superplastic f orming (SPF). Industrial capabilities were taken into account during proces s development. The alloy investigated falls within the composition ranges o f both aluminum alloys 6013 and 6111. The refined microstructure has an ave rage grain diameter of approximately 10 mum and an average grain aspect rat io near 1.6 and exhibits superplasticity above 500 degreesC. The uniaxial e longation reached 375 %.