A study on the micro-formability of Al 5083 superplastic alloy using micro-forging method

Micro-formability of superplastic Al 5083 alloy as a candidate material for micro-forming was investigated by varying the forming parameters such as time, load and temperature. Micro-forging machine and Si micro-dies with V-groove were employed for micro-forming test. Micro-formability was estimated by comparing Rf values (=Af/Ag), where Ag is cross-sectional area of V-groove, and Af the filled area by micro-formed sample. The Rf values increased with increasing load and time when the forming temperatures were in the range where superplasticity of Al 5083 alloy is manifest. On the other hand, the Rf values decreased as the forming temperatures got away from the superplastic temperature of Al 5083 alloy. Maximum Rf value (0.9952) was reached at temperature 530 °C, load 96 N and time 20 min.