An examination of the superplastic characteristics of Al–Mg–Sc alloys after processing

The Al–Mg–Sc alloys have become important materials in research conducted on superplasticity in aluminum-based alloys. Many results are now available and this provides an opportunity to examine the consistency of these data and also to make a direct comparison with the predicted rate of flow in conventional superplasticity. Accordingly, all available data were tabulated with divisions according to whether the samples were prepared without processing using severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques or they were processed using the SPD procedures of equal-channel angular pressing or high-pressure torsion or they were obtained from friction stir processing. It is shown that all results are mutually consistent, the measured superplastic strain rates have no clear dependence on the precise chemical compositions of the alloys, and there is a general agreement, to within less than one order of magnitude of strain rate, with the theoretical prediction for superplastic flow in conventional materials.