This book concentrates on both understanding and development of nanocrystalline materials. The original relation that connects grain size and strength, known as the Hall-Petch relation, is studied in the nanometer grain size region. The breakdown of such a relation is a challenge. Why and how to overcome it? Is the dislocation mechanism still operating when the grain size is very small, approaching the amorphous limit? How do we go from the microstructure information to the continuum description of the mechanical properties?

* Covers all aspects of physical metallurgy and behavior of metals and alloys. * Presents the principles on which metallurgy is based. * Concepts such as heat affected zone and structure-property relationships are covered. * Principles of casting are clearly outlined in the chapter on solidification. * Advanced treatment on physical metallurgy provides specialized information on metals.

These proceedings of the "Second International Conference on Nanomaterials by Severe Plastic Deformation" review the enormous scientific avalanche that has been developing in the field over recent years. A valuable resource for any scientist and engineer working in this emerging field of nanotechnology.

This book focuses on the emerging class of new materials characterized by ultra-fine microstrucures. The NATO ASI which produced this book was the first international scientific meeting devoted to a discussion of the mechanical properties and deformation behavior of materials having grain sizes down to a few nanometers. Topics covered include superplasticity, tribology, and the supermodulus effect. Review chapters cover a variety of other themes including synthesis, characterization, thermodynamic stability, and general physical properties. Much of the work is concerned with the issue of how far conventional techniques and concepts can be extended toward atomic scale probing. Another key issue concerns the structure of nanocrystalline materials, in particular, what is the structure and composition of the internal boundaries. These ultra-fine microstructures have proved to challenge even the finest probes that the materials science community has today.

This book describes spark plasma sintering (SPS) in depth. It addresses fundamentals and material-specific considerations, techniques, and applications across a broad spectrum of materials. The book highlights methods used to consolidate metallic or ceramic particles in very short times. It highlights the production of complex alloys and metal matrix composites with enhanced mechanical and wear properties. Emphasis is placed on the speed of the sintering processes, uniformity in product microstructure and properties, reduced grain growth, the compaction and sintering of materials in one processing step, various materials processing, and high energy efficiency. Current and potential applications in space science and aeronautics, automation, mechanical engineering, and biomedicine are addressed throughout the book.