Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Superplastic ductilities may be achieved in tension using polycrystalline materials with small grain sizes (typically <10 μm). Experiments were conducted to evaluate the significance of the grain boundaries in an Al-3% Mg solid solution alloy with a submicron grain size (∼0.2 μm). The material was produced by subjecting the alloy to severe plastic strain using a pressing technique. This paper describes the nature of the microstructure in the as-fabricated condition, the evolution of the microstructure as a function of time and/or temperature, and the effect of testing in tension at a temperature of 403 K.