Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 February 2011
The phenomenon of internal stress superplasticity is reviewed and the theoretical mechanical foundations of current mechanism models of the process examined. These models are shown to be based on two different principles: i.e. a biased internal plastic flow, or an enhanced creep generated by a superposition of internal and external stresses. Mechanical test data is shown to be more consistent with enhanced plasticity models in zinc and metal matrix composites for deformation during thermal cycling.