Superplastic behavior of aluminum-lithium alloys

Experimental results are presented on the superplastic behavior of two groups of alloys based on the Al-Li system. In the first group, additions of about 0.5 wt pct Zr were made to ingot alloys. In the second group, a thermomechanical processing procedure was carried out on two alloys, one produced by ingot metallurgy and the other by powder metallurgy. These alloys had similar compositions and contained only 0.15-0.2 wt pct Zr. The properties of the alloys are discussed, with emphasis placed on properties of interest in aerospace applications, such as specific modulus, specific strength, and a criterion for buckling failure