Abstract
The mechanical behaviour of the hot-rolled AI-Pd eutectic was investigated in uniaxial tension in the temperature range 293–823 K. The fine two-phase microstructure (matrix grain size < 10 μm) was found to exhibit structural superplasticity at high temperatures (723–823 K) manifest by a substantial elongation to failure (maximum value ∼400%) and a high value of the strain-rate sensitivity (m ≃ 0.5). The results are discussed on the basis of the criteria governing the superplastic alloy design. In particular, the important aspect of the grain-size stabilization is explained in terms of the Zener-McLean relation concerning grain-growth inhibition in a two-phase material during elevated-temperature exposure. Moreover, the results qualitatively confirm that the grain-boundary sliding plays a dominant role in the superplastic deformation process.
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