Nanocrystalline materials with new functionalities show great promise for use in industrial applications - such as reinforcing fillers in novel polymer composites – and substantial progress has been made in the past decade in their synthesis and processing. However, there are several issues that need to be addressed to develop these materials further. Among these, exploration of novel methods for the large-scale synthesis of low cost self-assembled nanostructures is a challenging research topic. Accordingly, there has emerged a demand to study their synthesis-structure-property relationships in order to understand the fundamental concepts underlying the observed physical and mechanical properties.With contributions from leading experts, this book describes the fundamental theories and concepts that illustrate the complexity of the problem in developing novel nanocrystalline materials. It reviews the most up-to-date progress in the synthesis, microstructural characterization, physical and mechanical behavior, and application of nanomaterials.* Investigates the synthesis, characterisation and properties of a huge variety of nanocrystalline materials, and their applications in industry * Keeps the prominent challenges in nanomaterials fabrication at the forefront while offering the most up-to-date scientific findings

Amorphous and nanocrystalline materials are a class of their own. Their properties are quite different to those of the corresponding crystalline materials. This book gives systematic insight into their physical properties, structure, behaviour, and design for special advanced applications.

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?

Nanocrystalline materials exhibit exceptional mechanical properties, representing an exciting new class of structural materials for technological applications. The advancement of this important field depends on the development of new fabrication methods, and an appreciation of the underlying nano-scale and interface effects. This authored book addresses these essential issues, presenting for the first time a fundamental, coherent and current account at the theoretical and practical level of nanocrystalline and nanocomposite bulk materials and coatings. The subject is approached systematically, covering processing methods, key structural and mechanical properties, and a wealth of applications. This is a valuable resource for graduate students studying nanomaterials science and nanotechnologies, as well as researchers and practitioners in materials science and engineering.

In the monograph, the first of this type in the world, the authors discuss systematically the current state of investigations into nanocrystalline materials. The experimental results on the effect of the nanocrystalline state on the microstructure and the mechanical, thermophysical, optical, and magnetic properties of metals, alloys and solid-phase compounds are generalised. Special attention is given to the main methods of production of isolated nanoparticles, ultrafine powders and dense nanocrystalline materials. The dimensional effects in isolated nanoparticles and high-density nanocrystalline materials are discussed in detail, and the important role of the interface in the formation of the structure and properties of dense nanocrystalline materials is shown. The modelling considerations, explaining special features of the structure and anomalous properties of substances in the nanocrystalline condition, are analysed.

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.