In Situ Electron Microscopy Studies on the Tensile Deformation Mechanisms in Aluminium 5083 Alloy

In this study tensile deformation mechanisms of aluminium alloy 5083 were investigated under observations made from SEM equipped with a tensile stage. Observations during tensile testing revealed a sequence of surface deformation events. These included micro-cracking of large intermetallic particles, decohesion of small intermetallic particles from the matrix producing microvoids and slip bands distribution. The fracture surface was characterised with closely spaced dimples, typical for aluminium alloys.