Promising processes for shaping superplastic materials

The use of superplastic regimes in drop forging, the shaping of flat-rolled semifinished products, and various special processes that have been developed for metal-shaping is making it possible to expand the capabilities of these operations by unprecedented amounts while reducing energy consumption in the shaping operation, saving significant quantities of metal, decreasing the volume and labor-intensiveness of the machining operations that are required, and improving the quality of the finished product. As examples, the article examines the superplastic forming of shells from flat-rolled products, the fabrication of cellular structures by superplastic forming combined with diffusion welding (SPF-DW), the formation of ribbed shells on thermoelastic presses, and the drop forging of large thin-walled panels on hydraulic presses in the superplastic regime.