SUPERPLASTICITY IN METALS AND CERAMICS

This book describes advances in the field of superplasticity, the ability of certain materials to undergo very large tensile strains. This phenomenon has increasing commercial applications, but also presents a fascinating scientific challenge in attempts to understand the physical mechanisms that underpin it. The authors emphasize the materials aspects of superplasticity. Beginning with a brief history of the phenomenon, they describe the two major types of superplasticity-- fine-structure and internal-stress superplasticity-- and discuss their operative mechanisms. They also present microstructural factors controlling the ductility and fracture in superplastic materials. Observations of superplasticity in metals (including aluminum, magnesium, iron, titanium and nickel), ceramics (including monoliths and composites), intermetallics (including iron, nickel, and titanium base), and laminates are thoroughly described. This is a valuable text for graduate students and researchers in materials science and engineering.