Multi-walled carbon nanotube-poly methyl methacrylate (MWNT/PMMA) nanocomposite has been prepared by in situ polymerization of MMA dispersed with MWNTs. The MWNTs were functionalized by nitric acid and sulfuric acid treatment, and this was confirmed by FTIR spectrometer. The solution mixture of MWNTs and MMA was partially polymerized at 80℃, followed by the addition of AIBN and polymerization at 50℃. The MWNT-PMMA composite was prepared by casting the pre-polymer on the glass plate, and the optical properties have been studied using UV-vis spectrometer. The acid treated MWNTs were well dispersed in MMA with fairly good dispersion stability, while flocculation and sedimentation was observed from raw MWNTs in MMA.

This paper compares the effect of using different types of iron powders for the preparation of by calciothermic reduction-diffusion (CRD). Three types of iron powder were used: carbonyl, sponge and water atomized. The results show that, when immediately nitrogenated after the CRD process, prepared from sponge and water atomized iron powders yield -magnets with a high degree of texture. However, after a suitable treatment with hydrogen followed by nitrogenation, -powders made from Carbonyl iron produce magnets with the best quality regarding coercivity, remanence and degree of texture.

We studied formation of nanostructured -Cu composites under shock wave conditions. We investigated the influence of preliminary mechanical activation (MA) of Ti-B-Cu powder mixtures on the peculiarities of the reaction between Ti and B under shock wave. In the MA-ed mixture the reaction proceeded completely while in the non-activated mixture the reagents remained along with the product . titanium diboride. The size of titanium diboride particles in the central part of the compact was 100-300 nm.

Al-8Fe-2Mo-2V-1Zr alloys were prepared by the gas atomization/hot extrusion and the melt spinning/hot extrusion. For the gas atomized and extruded alloy, equiaxed grains with the average size of 400 nm and finely distributed dispersoids with their particle sizes ranging from 50nm to 200nm were observed. For the melt spun and hot extrusion processed alloy, refined microstructural feature consisting of equiaxed grains with the average size of 200nm and fine dispersoids with their particle sizes under 50nm appeared to exhibit a difference in microstructure. Strength of the latter alloy was higher than that for the former alloy up to elevated temperatures.

The microstructure of the extruded Al-20Si bars showed a homogeneous distribution of eutectic Si and primary Si particles embedded in the Al matrix. The grain size of α-Al varied from 150 to 600 nm and the size of the eutectic Si and primary Si in the extruded bars was about 100 - 200 nm. The room temperature tensile strength of the alloy with a powder size <26μm was 322 MPa, while for the coarser powder (45-106μm) it was 230 MPa. With decreasing powder size from 45-106μm to <26μm, the specific wear of all the alloys decreased significantly at all sliding speeds due to the higher strength achieved by ultrafine-grained constituent phases. The fracture mechanism of failure in tension testing and wear testing was also studied.

The correct computer simulation of the powder compaction stage requires the determination of the elastoplastic parameters which characterize its mechanical behavour. Instrumented dies are frequently used to monitor the longitudinal and radial stress occurring during powder compaction. When strain gages are employed a previous calibration is needed. Many sources of error exist that can lead to the incorrect calibration of the instrumented die. By means of a FEM simulation some of these problems are analysed. The effect of die wall thickness, compression length, and strain location are studied.

This research reports for the successful consolidation of Al2O3 powder with retained ultra-fine structure using MPC and sintering. Measurements in the consolidated Al2O3 bulk indicated that hardness, fracture toughenss, and breakdown voltage have been much improved relative to the conventional polycrystalline materials. Finally, optimization of the compaction parameters and sintering conditions will lead to the consolidation of Al2O3 nanopowder with higher density and even further enhanced mechanical properties.

The present study examines the sintering behaviour and effect of manganese addition both mechanically-blended and mechanically alloyed on Cr-Mo low alloyed steels to enhance the mechanical properties. Mn sublimation during sintering provides some specific phenomena which facilitate the sintering of alloying elements with high oxygen affinity. First step is the optimization of milling time to attain a master alloy with 50% of Mn which is diluted in Fe-1.5Cr-0.2Mo water atomized prealloyed powder by normal mixing. These mixtures are pressed to a green density of 7.1 g/cm3 and sintered at 1120 ºC in 90N2-10H2 atmosphere.

The decrease of the distance between particle centers due to the growth of the sinter necks can be explained by the well known two-particle model. Unfortunately this model fails to provide a comprehensive description of the processes for 3D specimens. Furthermore, there is a significant discrepancy between the calculated and the measured shrinkage because particle rearrangements are not considered. Only the recently developed analysis of the particle movements inside of 3D specimens using micro focus computed tomography (μCT), combined with photogrammetric image analysis, can deliver the necessary experimental data to improve existing sintering theories. In this work, μCT analysis was applied to spherical copper powders. Based on photogrammetric image analysis, it is possible to determine the positions of all particle centers for tracking the particles over the entire sintering process and to follow the formation and breaking of the particle bonds. In this paper, we present an in-depth analysis of the obtaine data. In the future, high resolution synchrotron radiation tomography will be utilized to obtain in-situ data and images of higher resolution.