NOVEL SUPERPLASTIC ALUMINUM ALLOYS BY CONTROLLED CRYSTALLIZATION OF GLASSY ALUMINUM ALLOYS

THIS PROJECT IS USING A NOVEL APPROACH TO DEVELOP HIGH TEMPERATURE ALUMINUM ALLOYS THAT HAVE EXCEPTIONAL STRENGTH AND CORROSION RESISTANCE. CONTROLLED CONSOLIDATION CRYSTALLIZATION OF RECENTLY DISCOVERED ULTRA-HIGH STRENGTH (1120 MPA) DUCTILE GLASSY ALUMINUM ALLOY IS BEING CARRIED OUT TO OBTAIN A DUAL-PHASE STRUCTURE WITH AN EQUIAXED ULTRAFINE GRAIN MATRIX, A CONDITION CONDUCIVE TO SUPERPLASTIC FORMING. THE ADVANTAGES OF A HIGH SPEED (SECONDS), HIGH PRESSURE (200,000 PSI) CONSOLIDATION PROCESSARE BEING APPLIED. A FEASIBILITY DEMONSTRATION IS BEING PROVIDED IN PHASE I EMPLOYING THE SUPERPLASTIC FORMING APPROACH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY A LARGER SIZE COMPLEX SHAPEMAKING DEMONSTRATION IN PHASE II.