Microstructural Evolution and Tensile Testing of a Bi–Sn (57/43) Alloy Processed by Tube High-Pressure Shearing

Abstract

Tube high-pressure shearing (t-HPS) processing was performed on a eutectic Bi–Sn (57/43) alloy for 0.25, 1, 5 and 20 turns. The selected samples were stored at room temperature for up to 56 days to examine the strain weakening and self-annealing behavior of the alloy. The results showed that t-HPS processing gradually refined the microstructure and led to decreasing of microhardness, but microhardness increased slowly during the subsequent storage at room temperature. Shear localization of the eutectic structure during t-HPS processing was observed as large amounts of narrow dense lamellar zones were visible in the deformed microstructures. The Bi–Sn (57/43) alloy processed by t-HPS exhibited significantly enhanced superplastic properties with elongations up to >1800% in a sample after t-HPS processing for 20 turns. This high elongation is attributed to the breaking of the lamellar structure and the very small grain size.

Keywords

• Bi–Sn alloy
• microhardness
• self-annealing
• superplasticity
• tube high-pressure shearing