Oxidation behavior and microstructural characteristics of nano-sized Sn powder were studied. DTA-TG analysis showed that the Sn powder exhibited an endothermic peak at and exothermic peak at with an increase in weight. Based on the phase diagram consideration of Sn-O system and XRD analysis, it was interpreted that the first peak was for the melting of Sn powder and the second peak resulted from the formation of phase. Microstructural observation revealed that the powder, heated to under air atmosphere, consisted of agglomerates with large particle size due to the melting of Sn powder during heat treatment. Finally, fine SnO2 powders with an average size of 50nm can be fabricated by controlled heat treatment and ultrasonic milling process

The microstructure and hardness of (W,Ti)C cemented carbides with a different metallic binder composition of Ni and Co fabricated by powder technology were investigated. The densifications of the prepared materials were accomplished by using vacuum sintering at . Nearly full dense (W,Ti)C cemented carbides were obtained with a relative density of up to 99.7% with 30 wt.% Co and 99.9% with 30 wt.% Ni as a metallic binder. The average grain size of the (W,Ti)C-Co and the (W,Ti)C-Ni was decreased by increasing the metallic binder content. The hardness of the dense (W,Ti)C-15 wt%Co and (W,Ti)C-15 wt%Ni, was greater than that of the other related cemented carbides; in addition, the cobalt-based cemented carbides had greater hardness values than the nickel-based cemented carbides.

In the Ti(CN)-Co/Ni cermet, WC is an effective additive for increasing sinterability and mechanical properties such as toughness and hardness. In this work, WC, (WTi)C and (WTi)(CN) were used as the source of WC and their effects were investigated in the respect of microstructural evolution and mechanical properties. Regardless of the kinds of WC sources, the hard phase with dark core and bright rim structure was observed in the Ti(CN)-Co/Ni cermet under the incorporation of relatively small amount of WC. However, hard phases with bright core began to appear and their frequency increased with the increase of all kinds of WC source addition. The ratio of bright core to dark one in the (TiW)(CN)-Co/Ni cermet was greatest under the incorporation of (WTi)C compared at the same equivalent amount of WC. The mechanical properties were improved with the addition of WC irrespective of the kinds of sources, but the addition of (WTi)(CN) was less effective for the increase of fracture toughness.

The microstructural and mechanical properties of Al-Si alloyed powder, prepared by gas atomization fallowed by hot extrusion, were studied by optical and scanning electron microscopies, hardness and wear testing. The gas atomized Al-Si alloy powder exhibited uniformly dispersed Si particles with particle size ranging from 5 to . The hot extruded Al-Si alloy shows the average Si particle size of less than . After heat-treatment, the average particle size was increased from 2 to . Also, mechanical properties of extruded Al-Si alloy powder were analyzed before and after heat-treatment. As expected from the microstructural analysis, the heat-treated samples resulted in a decrease in the hardness and wear resistance due to Si particle growth. The friction coefficient of heat-treated Al-Si alloyed powder showed higher value tough all sliding speed. This behavior would be due to abrasive wear mechanism. As sliding speed increases, friction coefficient and depth and width of wear track increase. No significant changes occurred in the wear track shape with increased sliding speed.

The microstructure and mechanical properties of hot-pressed composites with a different sintering temperature have been studied. The size of matrix grain and Cu dispersion in composites increased with increase in sintering temperature. Fracture toughness of the composite sintered at high temperature exhibited an enhanced value. The toughness increase was explained by the thermal residual stress, crack bridging and crack branching by the formation of microcrack. The nanocomposite, hot-pressed at , showed the maximum fracture strength of 707 MPa. The strengthening was mainly attributed to the refinement of matrix grains and the increased toughness.

We manufactured the metal hydrides of using a very easy and cheap way that Ti-12%Mg blending powder was mechanically milled with liquid milling media such as isopropyl alcohol (, containing oxygen) and hexane (, no oxygen) as hydrogen source. The synthesized in isopropyl alcohol contained the high oxygen of 11.2%, while one in hexane had the low oxygen content of 0.7%. Such a difference of oxygen content affected the dehydriding behavior, phase transformation, and microstructural evolution at high temperature, which was investigated through X-ray diffraction and DSC measurements, and electron microscope observations

The particle reinforced composite fabricated by a powder-in sheath rolling (PSR) method was severely. deformed by the accumulative roll-bonding (ARB) process. The ARB process was performed up to 8 cycles at ambient temperature without lubricant. The ARBed composite exhibited an ulbricant. grained structure similar to the other ARBed bulky materials. Tensile strength of the composite increased gradually with the number of ARB cycles, but from the 6th cycle it rather decreased slightly. These characteristics of the composite were somewhat different from those of Al powder compact fabricated by the same procedures. The difference in microstructure and mechanical properties between Al powder compact and the composite was discussed

The effect of Cu content on microstructure and mechanical properties of nano-sized Cu dispersed nanocomposites was investigated. The nanocomposites with Cu content of 2.5 to were prepared by reduction and hot-pressing of powder mixtures. The nanocomposites with Cu content of 2.5 and exhibited the maximum fracture strength of 820MPa and enhanced toughness compared with monolithic . The strengthening was mainly attributed to the refinement of matrix grains. The toughening mechanism was discussed by the observed microstructural feature based on crack bridging