The influence of crystallographic texture on grain boundary sliding during superplastic deformation in Zn–1.1%Al alloy

Textured Zn–1.1%Al alloy which pole figure is characterized by two 0 0 0 2 components has been subjected to superplastic deformation in different directions. One of the straining directions is favorable for basal slip and the other is not. The contribution of grain boundary sliding to total deformation has been estimated on the basis of measurements of the vertical component of sliding. The material shows significant anisotropies of flow stress and grain boundary sliding. Deformation in the direction unfavorable for intragranular slip results in a much higher flow stress and the contribution of grain boundary sliding to the total strain than deformation in the favorable direction. These results demonstrate an independent relationship between grain boundary sliding and intragranular slip during superplastic flow.