8. Conclusion

Superplastic forming has enjoyed a significant industrial boom over the last ten years. Titanium alloys, aluminum alloys and superalloys still account for the bulk of formed parts. When it comes to thermoforming these alloys, efforts are currently focused on reducing forming costs, both in terms of tooling and the thermomechanical ranges required to achieve microstructures with superplastic properties.

From a research point of view, the number of materials for which superplastic behaviors have been obtained has risen sharply in recent years. These include thermomechanical ceramics, intermetallic alloys and metal matrix composites. However, the application of superplastic forming to these materials is still in its infancy. In terms of understanding the physical mechanisms involved in superplastic deformation, efforts are focused in particular on a better description...