Superplasticity: Recent Approaches and Trends

The increasing inclination of manufacturers toward reducing the component count in order to produce the product near to the final net shape has given momentum to superplastic forming. Superplastic forming is based on developing superplasticity in the polycrystalline materials. The capacity of any material to develop uniform plastic elongations more than 200% under tension is termed as superplasticity. It helps in the precise and easy fabrication of complex parts without any joining or welding. The key to achieve large tensile elongations lies in the fine grain size of the material. Fine grain size and subsequent superplastic properties can be developed in metals through various approaches like thermo-mechanical and severe plastic deformation processes. This paper gives a preface to the concept of superplasticity and discusses different methods to induce superplasticity in metals. Highlights of the recent trends and challenges encountered in the field of superplasticity are also presented.