It is known that the formation of cavities during superplastic deformation can be correlated with the development of stress concentrations at irregularities along grain boundaries such as particles, ledges and triple points. In commercial aluminium alloys Al-Fe-Si particles or other coarse constituents may play an important role in cavity formation.Cavity formation during superplastic deformation was studied by optical metallography and transmission scanning electron microscopic investigations on Al-Mg-Si and Al-Mg-Mn alloys. The structure of particles was characterized by selected area diffraction and X-ray micro analysis. The volume fraction of “voids” was determined on mechanically polished surface.It was found by electron microscopy that strongly deformed regions are formed during superplastic forming at grain boundaries and around coarse particles.According to electron diffraction measurements these areas consist of small micro crystallized regions. See Fig.l.Comparing the volume fraction and morphology of cavities found by optical microscopy a good correlation was established between that of micro crystalline regions.
