Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R79043/01
Title:	High Superplastic Strain Rate Aluminium Sheet: Mechanisms and Manufacture
Principal Investigator:	Dashwood, Professor RJ
Other Investigators:	Grimes, Professor RW
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Aerospace Metal Composites Ltd Alcoa AMG Superalloys (UK) British Aluminium Ltd Holton Machinery Limited Lotus Cars Ltd
Department:	Materials
Organisation:	Imperial College London
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 August 2002	Ends:	31 January 2006	Value (£):	291,641
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The programme will develop the approach used by the current investigators in GR/L43848: intermediate solidification rate particulate casting will be used to achieve supersaturation with the grain control element zirconium at levels up to 1 %. Thermomechanical processing will be employed to achieve the appropriate AI3Zr precipitation. Cold rolling will then be applied to generate the microstructure required for superplastic behaviour. Three areas have been identified for investigation: the selection and development of a suitable particulate consolidation route, development of the alloy with respect to SPF performance and service properties and concurrent fundamental investigation into the mechanisms of the development of Zr distribution during processing and its effect on microstructure evolution through processing and subsequent SPF performance. It is proposed that direct roll consolidation, Conform and hot isostatic pressing be investigated as potential commercial methods for particulate consolidation. As there is strong interest from vehicle builders in a high strain rate AA6XXX alloy and from the Aerospace sector for a high strength non-heat treatable SPF alloy, the potential for such alloys will be investigated. A further area of investigation will focus on understanding the relationship between thermomechanical processing conditions and AI3Zr distribution and its subsequent effect, in combination with matrix chemistry and deformation, on the recrystallisation behaviour of the materials. It is then proposed that this information be used to develop a model for development of AhZr distribution and recrystallisation.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.imperial.ac.uk