Nanocrystalline materials are three-dimensional ultrafine, polycrystalline microstructures. They give rise to interesting and useful chemical and physical-size effects. This book describes the development of a method of synthesizing chemical vapor for the production of nanocrystalline ceramic powders. The development of the microstructure during sintering is studied and the influence of the synthesis parameters on the structure and properties of the nanocrystalline ceramics from the atomic to the microstructural level is investigated. The emerging unified view, from powder synthesis and ceramic processing to structural characterization and determination of properties, provides a detailed understanding of the materials and enables better quality control of the end products.

Nanocrystalline materials is the name given to three-dimensional ultrafine, polycrystalline microstructures. These microstructures give rise to chemical and physical size effects which are of increasing scientific and technological interest. This book describes the development of a chemical vapor synthesis method for the production of nanocrystalline ceramic powders. The development of the microstructure during sintering is studied and the influence of the synthesis parameters on the structure and properties of the nanocrystalline ceramics from the atomic to the microstructural level is investigated. The emerging unified view, from powder synthesis and ceramic processing to structural characterization and determination of properties, provides a detailed understanding of nanocrystalline materials and enables a precise control of the quality of the final products.

Since the beginning of the nanotechnology era, research and development in this field has experienced an explosive growth in academia and industry. Topics covered in this book include synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, nanoscale phenomena in electronic ceramics, nanostructured bioceramics, industrial development and application, and much more.

This two volume set reviews the key issues in processing and characterization of nanoscale ferroelectrics and multiferroics, and provides a comprehensive description of their properties, with an emphasis in differentiating size effects of extrinsic ones like boundary or interface effects. Recently described nanoscale novel phenomena are also addressed. Organized into three parts it addresses key issues in processing (nanostructuring), characterization (of the nanostructured materials) and nanoscale effects. Taking full advantage of the synergies between nanoscale ferroelectrics and multiferroics, the text covers materials nanostructured at all levels, from ceramic technologies like ferroelectric nanopowders, bulk nanostructured ceramics and thick films, and magnetoelectric nanocomposites, to thin films, either polycrystalline layer heterostructures or epitaxial systems, and to nanoscale free standing objects with specific geometries, such as nanowires and tubes at different levels of development. This set is developed from the high level European scientific knowledge platform built within the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action on Single and multiphase ferroics and multiferroics with restricted geometries (SIMUFER, ref. MP0904). Chapter contributors have been carefully selected, and have all made major contributions to knowledge of the respective topics, and overall, they are among most respected scientists in the field.

This book examines recent developments in inert anodes for aluminum electrolysis. It describes the composition and application of the most promising metal ceramic inert anode materials and nickel-oxide nanotechnology in the aluminum industry. The volume addresses concepts, analysis, properties, conductivity and corrosion, microstructure and microanalysis, and machinability of inert anodes for aluminum electrolysis. The book will be valuable to the aluminum industry, where inert anodes are having a profound impact in creating more energy saving, greener, and more functional aluminum materials in high-strength and high-temperature applications.

This book covers the area of advanced ceramic composites broadly, providing important introductory chapters to fundamentals, processing, and applications of advanced ceramic composites. Within each section, specific topics covered highlight the state of the art research within one of the above sections. The organization of the book is designed to provide easy understanding by students as well as professionals interested in advanced ceramic composites. The various sections discuss fundamentals of nature and characteristics of ceramics, processing of ceramics, processing and properties of toughened ceramics, high temperature ceramics, nanoceramics and nanoceramic composites, and bioceramics and biocomposites.

The chapter is focused on the processing of bulk advanced ceramics. A general overview of ceramic processes is presented with the focus on processes relevant to advanced ceramics in dentistry. The processing of ceramics is divided into four parts that describe the basic steps: powder treatment, shaping of ceramic green bodies, drying and binder removal, and sintering. The first part discusses the reasons for powder treatment. The causes of powder agglomeration are explained and possible dispersion techniques are given. The principles of the most important methods of dry, wet, and plastic shaping, and consolidation of green bodies are explained. The mechanisms of solvent drying and binder removal from consolidated green bodies are discussed and the potential problems of this processing step are highlighted. The densification of green bodies via sintering is explained and possible sintering techniques are described. Advantages and disadvantages of particular sintering methods are discussed.