Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is traditionally a standard method in polymer analysis. This technique is very sensitive to changes in materials properties, like glass transition in polymers. It can be used to measure phase difference (tan δ), storage modulus (E'), loss modulus (E") and recently transformation temperatures for metal alloys. Three different alloys: Zn-21%Al-2%Cu, Cd-17%Zn and Sn-38%Pb, each one in a superplastic and non-superplastic condition have been studied using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). Results showed a clear peak of the loss modulus which is related to the superplastic temperature for each analyzed alloy. It is possible that the increase of the loss modulus is related with the accommodation of grain boundaries from non-sliding state to sliding state. The activation of a higher number of grain boundaries can be connected with a lower shear stress required to overcome the cohesion energy between grains at the superplastic temperature.
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis; superplasticity; homologous temperature
