The influence of Ni on the contributions of the superplastic deformation mechanisms of the Al–Zn–Mg–Cr alloys

Abstract

The Ni influence on the superplastic characteristics, the microstructure evolution and the contributions of the superplastic deformation mechanisms for Al-Zn-Mg-Cr-based alloys have been investigated. The alloys contained dispersoids enriched with Cr, Mg and a minor of Zn of a mean size of 140 nm and in addition the Al3Ni phase in the alloy with nickel. Al3Ni phase increased homogeneity and stablity grain structure during elevated annealing temperature and during superplastic deformation at 440°C. The mean grain size decreases from 7.7 to 7.3 µm before the onset of the deformation and from 10 to 8.6 µm after straining of 0.69. The dislocations aggregations near Al3Ni particles were revealed. The microstructure evolution was compared at the testing condition providing a similar value of the strain rate sensitivity coefficient m≈0.6. The grain boundary sliding contribution is twofold larger and the intragranular dislocation slip is three times smaller in the alloy with Al3Ni particles compared to nickel-free alloy. Al3Ni particles leads to more equiaxed finegrain structure and an increase elongation to failure.