Enhanced superplasticity through friction stir processing in continuous cast AA5083 aluminum

AA5083 aluminum is a material of choice for superplastic automotive and aerospace aluminum panels. The cost of superplastic grade aluminum sheet, despite some reductions in recent years, remains relatively high. Continuous strip casting holds promise for low cost superplastic sheet. A continuously cast AA5083 aluminum sheet was friction stir processed and cold rolled in order to compare the properties with the as-cast and rolled material. It was found that the inclusion of the FSP step refined the recrystallized grain size, increased the elongations, and lowered the flow stresses.