Elevated temperature behavior of SePD materials: Superplasticity or enhanced ductility?

The generated results on superplastic flow (SPF) in materials produced by severe plastic deformation (SePD) have been analyzed. Formation of sliding surfaces with subsequent cooperative grain boundary sliding (CGBS) has been demonstrated to be a main deformation mechanism of superplasticity under conditions of microstructural stability. A substantial role of dislocation glide in accommodation processes is shown. When grain growth is observed during deformation, continuous grain boundary migration prevents formation of slide surfaces and CGBS is restrained. In this case, deformation of the material is more likely to occur by dislocation or diffusion creep than true SPF despite relatively large strains being reached.