In this study, Ni-Y2O3 powder was prepared by alloying recomposition oxidation sintering (AROS), solution combustion synthesis (SCS), and conventional mechanical alloying (MA). The microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloys were investigated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Among the Ni-Y2O3 powders synthesized by the three methods, the AROS powder had approximately 5 nm of Y2O3 crystals uniformly distributed within the Ni particles, whereas the SCS powder contained a mixture of Ni and Y2O3 nanoparticles, and the MA powder formed small Y2O3 crystals on the surface of large Ni particles by milling the mixture of Ni and Y2O3. The average grain size of Y2O3 in the sintered alloys was approximately 15 nm, with the AROS sinter having the smallest, followed by the SCS sinter at 18 nm, and the MA sinter at 22 nm. The yield strength (YS) of the SCS- and MA-sintered alloys were 1511 and 1688 MPa, respectively, which are lower than the YS value of 1697 MPa for the AROS-sintered alloys. The AROS alloy exhibited improved strength compared to the alloys fabricated by SCS and conventional MA methods, primarily because of the increased strengthening from the finer Y2O3 particles and Ni grains.

TiO2-particles containing Co grains are fabricated via thermal hydrogenation and selective oxidation of Ti- Co alloy. For comparison, TiO2-Co composite powders are prepared by two kinds of methods which were the mechanical carbonization and oxidation process, and the conventional mixing process. The microstructural characteristics of the prepared composites are analyzed by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scattering electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the composite powders are sintered at 800℃ by spark plasma sintering. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of the sintered samples prepared by thermal hydrogenation and mechanical carbonization are found to be higher than those of the samples prepared by the conventional mixing process. Moreover, the microstructures of sintered samples prepared by thermal hydrogenation and mechanical carbonization processes are found to be similar. The difference in the mechanical properties of sintered samples prepared by thermal hydrogenation and mechanical carbonization processes is attributed to the different sizes of metallic Co particles in the samples.

Al-Ni alloy nano powders have been produced by the electrical explosion of Ni-plated Al wire. The porous nano particles were prepared by leaching for Al-Ni alloy nano powders in 20wt% NaOH aqueous solution. The structural properties of leached porous nano powder were investigated by nitrogen physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission Microscope (TEM). The surface areas of the leached powders were increased with amounts of AI in alloys. The pore size distributions of these powders were exhibited maxima at range of pore diameters 3.0 to 3.5 nm from the desorption isotherm. The maximum values of those were decreased with amounts of Al in alloys.

Al-Cu alloy nano powders have been produced by the electrical explosion of Cu-plated Al wire. The porous nano particles were prepared by leaching for Al-Cu alloy nano powders in 40wt% NaOH aqueous solution. The surface area of leached powder for 5 hours was 4 times larger than that of original alloy nano powder. It is demonstrated that porous nano particles could be obtained by selective leaching of alloy nano powder. It is expected that porous Cu nano powders can be applied for catalyst of SRM (steam reforming methanol).

Silver coated copper composite powders were prepared by electroless plating method by controlling the activation and deposition process variables such as feeding rate of silver ions solution, concentration of reductant and molar ratio of activation solution at room temperature. The characteristics of the product were verified by using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic absorption (A.A.). It is noted that completely cleansing the copper oxide layers and protecting the copper particles surface from hydrolysis were important to obtain high quality Ag-Cu composite powders. The optimum conditions of Ag-Cu composite powder synthesis were molar ratio 4, concentration of reductant 15g/l and feeding rate of silver ions solution 2 ml/min.

Ag-Cu alloy nano powders were fabricated by the electrical explosion of Cu-plated Ag wires. Ag wires of 0.2mm diameter was electroplated to final diameter of 0.220 mm and 0.307 mm which correspond to Ag-27Cu and Ag-68Cu alloy. The explosion product consisted of equilibrium phases of and -Cu. The particle size of Ag-Cu nano powders were 44 nm and 70 nm for 0.220 mm and 0.307 mm wires, respectively. The Ag-Cu nano powders contained less Cu than average value due to higher sublimation energy compared to that of Ag. As a result, micron-sized spherical particles formed from liquid droplets contained higher Cu content.

Cu-Ni-P alloy nano powders were fabricated by the electrical explosion of electroless Ni plated Cu wires. The effect of applied voltage on the explosion was examined by applying pulse voltage of 6 and 28 kV, The estimated overheating factor, K, were 1.3 for 6 kV and 2.2 for 28 kV. The powders produced with pulse voltage of 6 kV were composed of Cu-rich solid solution, Ni-rich solid solution, and phase. While, those produced with 28 kV were complete Cu-Ni-P solid solution and small amount of phase. The initial P content of 6.5 at.% was reduced to 2-3 at.% during explosion due to its high vapour pressure.

The present study was focused on the synthesis of a zirconium-based alloyed nanopowder by the plasma arc discharge process. The chemical composition, phase structure, particle size and hydrogen sorption property of the synthesized powders under various synthesis conditions were analyzed using XRF, XRD, SEM, XPS and the ASTM-F798 method. The chemical composition of the synthesized Zr-V-Fe-based powders approached that of the raw material with an increasing hydrogen fraction in the powder synthesis atmosphere. The synthesized powder consist of a mixed phase structure of the phases. This powder has an average particle size of about 20 nm. The synthesized nanopowder showed getter characteristics, even though it had a lower hydrogen sorption speed than the getter powder. However, the synthesized Zr nanopowder with an average particle size of 20 nm showed higher hydrogen sorption speed than the getter powder.

Getter property of nano-sized metallic powders was evaluated as a possible candidate for the future getter material. For the purpose, Ti powders of about 50 nm were prepared by electrical wire explosion. Commercial Ti powders of about 22 micrometer were tested as well for comparison. The room-temperature hydrogen-sorption speed of nano-sized Ti powders was which was more than 4 times higher than that of micron-sized ones. The value is comparable to or even higher than those of commercial products. Its sorption speed increases with activation temperature up to above which it deteriorates due to low-temperature sintering effect of nano-sized particles.

The hydrogen sorption speeds of amorphous alloy and its crystallized alloys were evaluated at room temperature. amorphous alloy was prepared by ball milling. The hydrogen sorption rate of the partially crystallized alloy was higher than that of amorphous. The enhanced sorption rate of partially crystallized alloy was explained in terms of grain refinement that has been known to promote the diffusion into metallic bulk of the gases. The grain refinement could be obtained by crystallization of amorphous phase resulting in the observed increase in sorption property.

Cu-Zn alloy nano powders were fabricated by the electrical explosion of Zn-electroplated Cu wire along with commercial brass wire. The powders exploded from brass wire were composed mainly of phases while those from electroplated wires contained additional Zn-rich phases as , and Zn. In case of Zn-elec-troplated Cu wire, the mixing time of the two components during explosion might not be long enough to solidify as the phases of lower Zn content. This along with the high vapor pressure of Zn appears to be the reason for the observed shift of explosion products towards the high-Zn phases in electroplated wire system.

Al-Cu alloy nano powders were produced by the electrical explosion of Cu-plated Al wires. The composition and phase of the alloy could be controlled by varying the thickness of Cu deposit on Al wire. When the Cu layer was thin, Al solid solution and were the major phases. As the Cu layer becomes thicker, Al diminished while phase prevailed instead. The average particle size of Al-Cu nano powders became slightly smaller from 63 nm to 44 nm as Cu layer becomes thicker. The oxygen content of Al-Cu powder decreased linearly with Cu content. It is well demonstrated that the electrodeposition combined with wire explosion could be simple and economical means to prepare variety of alloy and intermetallic nano powders.

The hydrogen sorption speed of nanocrystalline and amorphous alloys was evaluated at room temperature. Nanocrystalline alloys of were prepared by planetary ball milling. The hydrogen sorption speed of nanocrystalline alloys was higher than that of the amorphous alloy. The enhanced sorption speed of nanocrystalline alloys was explained in terms of surface oxygen stability which has been known to retard the activation of amorphous alloys. The retardation can be reduced by formation of nanocrystals, which results in the observed increase in sorption properties