Superplastic Behavior of Copper-Modified 5083 Aluminum Alloy

An AA5083 aluminum alloy was modified with two different levels of Cu additions, cast by direct-chill method, and thermo-mechanically processed to sheet gauge. Copper additions reduced sheet grain size, decreased tensile flow stress and significantly increased tensile elongation under most elevated temperature test conditions. The high-Cu (0.8 wt.%) alloy had the finest grain size 5.3 μm, a peak strain-rate sensitivity of 0.6 at a strain-rate of 1 × 10⁻² s⁻¹, and tensile elongation values between 259 and 584% over the temperature range, 400-525 °C, and the strain rate range, 5 × 10⁻⁴ to 1 × 10⁻² s⁻¹, investigated. In biaxial pan forming tests, only the Cu-containing alloys successfully formed pans at the higher strain rate 10⁻² s⁻¹. The high-Cu alloy showed the least die-entry thinning. Comparison of ambient temperature mechanical properties in O-temper state showed the high-Cu alloy to have significantly higher yield strength, ultimate strength, and ductility compared to the base 5083 alloy. This article was presented at the AeroMat Conference, International Symposium on Superplasticity and Superplastic Forming (SPF) held in Seattle, WA, June 6-9, 2005.