Superplastic Tube Forming of materials exhibiting superplastic flow has not,as yet found wide commercial application even though it was one of the first modes of superplastic forming explored. Extruded and drawn aluminum and magnesium alloys can now be commercially produced to yield superplastic tubing. This paper examines the remarkable forming conditions, copared to sheet forming, that prevail when inflating a thin wall tube. Examples of computer simulation used to model tube forming and predict pressure profiles needed are reviewed along with the special purpose equipment required for successful SP Tube Forming. Finally a number of SP Tube Formed products are discussed from both a technical and commercial standpoint.
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