Analysis of the Transition in Deformation Mechanisms in Superplastic 5083 Aluminum Alloys by Orientation Imaging Microscopy

Recently developed Orientation Imaging Microscopy (OIM) methods have been applied to the analysis of microstructure and microtexture of 5083 aluminum alloy materials that have been processed to enable superplasticity. The phenomenon of superplasticity allows economical forming of complex components while retaining the high strength- and stiffness-to-weight ratios characteristic of aluminum alloys used in automotive, aerospace and military applications. Superplasticity requires fine grains with high-angle boundaries and resistance to failure by cavitation. OIM permits grain-specific orientation determination and quantitative assessment of the grain-to-grain disorientation distribution as well as grain size measurement in materials. The current work offers significant new insights into the development and response of superplastic microstructures; in particular, OIM data may be employed to delineate the transition from slip to grain boundary sliding in superplastic 5083 materials.Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA is the author of 'Analysis of the Transition in Deformation Mechanisms in Superplastic 5083 Aluminum Alloys by Orientation Imaging Microscopy' with ISBN 9781423523086 and ISBN 1423523083.