This paper presents a new approach for analyzing the microstructure of -reinforced aluminum matrix composites from digital images. Various samples of aluminum matrix composite were fabricated by hot pressing the powder mixtures with certain volume and size combinations of pure Al and SiC particles. Microstructures of the samples were analyzed by computer-based image processing methods. Since the conventional methods are not suitable for separating phases of such complex microstructures, some new algorithms have been developed for the improved recognition and characterization of the particles in the metal matrix composites.

The preparation of metallic glass composite powders was accomplished by the mechanical alloying of a pure Ti, Cu, Ni, Sn and carbon nanotube (CNT) powder mixture after 8 h milling. In the ball-milled composites, the initial CNT particles were dissolved in the Ti-based alloy glassy matrix. The bulk metallic glass composite was successfully prepared by vacuum hot pressing the as-milled CNT/ metallic glass composite powders. A significant hardness increase with the CNT additions was observed for the consolidated composite compacts.

Bend tests were performed at temperatures between 77 and 473K for W-19vol%Cu, W-22vol%Ag and W-19vol%(BAg-8) composites. Yield and maximum strengths and ductility of the composite were discussed in terms of microstructure and fractography. Results are summarized as follows. (1) Almost no difference was recognized in yield strength between the composites. In contrast, a large difference was recognized in maximum strength and ductility between the composites. (2) Inferior mechanical properties of W-Ag composite to W-Cu composite are attributed to heterogeneous distribution of Ag-phases, whilst inferior mechanical properties of W-(BAg-8) composite to W-Cu composite are attributed to large pores at grain boundaries.

Titanium alloys and Titanium alloy-based particulate composites were synthesized using the blended elemental P/M route. First, processing conditions such as the fabrication of master alloy powder were investigated. Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-5Al-2.5Fe, Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, IMI685, IMI829, Timetal 1100 and Timetal 62S, and Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo/ 10%TiB and Timetal 62S/10%TiB were then synthesized using the optimal processing conditions obtained. The microstructures and mechanical properties such as tensile strength and high cycle fatigue strength were evaluated.

Particulate reinforced titanium composites were produced by PM rout. Differents volumetric percentages of TiN reinforcements were used, 5,10,15 vol%. Samples were uniaxial pressed and vacuum sintered at differents temperatures between . Density, porosity, shrinkage, mechanical properties and microstructure were studied. Elastic properties and strength resistance were analysed by flexural strength and tension tests, and after the test, fractured samples were analysed too, obtaining a correlation between the fracture, interparticulated or intraparticulated, and the reinforcement addition.. Hardness and microhardness test were applied too, in order to complete the study about mechanical properties. In order to study wear resistance pin-on-disc test were used. In addition, the temperature influence, the reactivity between matrix and reinforcement, and the microstructures developed were observed by optical and electron microscopy.

Thermal management is one of the critical aspects in the design of highly integrated microelectronic devices. The reliability of electronic components is limited not only to operating temperature but also by the thermal stresses caused during the operation. The need for higher power densities calls for use of advanced heat spreader materials. A copper diamond composite has been developed with high thermal conductivity (λ) and tailorable coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Copper diamond composites are processed via gas pressure assisted infiltration with different copper alloys. Emphasis has been placed on the addition of trace elements in deisgning the copper alloys to facilitate a compromise between thermal conductivity and mechanical adhesion. The interfaces between the alloy and the diamond are related to the thermal properties of these copper composites.

Bulk metallic glass (BMG) composites combining a Cu54Ni6Zr22Ti18 matrix with brass powders or Zr62Al8Ni13Cu17 metallic glass powders were fabricated by spark plasma sintering. The brass powders and Zr-based metallic glass powders added for the enhancement of plasticity are well distributed homogeneously in the Cu-based metallic glass matrix after consolidation. The BMG composites show macroscopic plasticity after yielding, and the plastic strain increased to around 2% without a decrease in strength for the composite material containing 20 vol% Zr-based amorphous powders. The proper combination of strength and plasticity in the BMG composites was obtained by introducing a second phase in the metallic glass matrix.

For microelectronic circuits, the main type of failure is thermal fatigue. Therefore, the search for matched coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of packaging materials in combination with a high thermal conductivity is the main task for developments of heat sink materials electronics, and good mechanical properties are also required. The aim of this work is to develop copper matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanofibers to meet these requirements. In this paper, a technology for obtaining a homogeneous mixture of copper and nanofibers will be presented and the microstructure and properties of consolidated samples will be discussed.

This paper describes the physical properties of filled Nylon6 composites resin with nano-sized carbon black particle and graphite nanofibers prepared by melt extrusion method. In improving adhesions between resin and fillers, the surface of the carbon filler materials were chemically modified by thermo-oxidative treatments and followed by treatments of silane coupling agent. Crystallization temperature and rate of crystallization increased with increases in filler concentration which would act as nuclei for crystallization. The silane treatments on the filler materials showed effect of reduction in crystallization temperature, possibly from enhancement in wetting property of the surface of the filler materials. Percolation transition phenomenon at which the volume resistivity was sharply decreased was observed above 9 wt% of carbon black and above 6 wt% of graphite nanofiber. The graphite nanofibers contributed to more effectively in an increase in electrical conductivity than carbon black did, on the other hand, the silane coupling agent negatively affected to the electrical conductivity due to the insulating property of the silane. Positive temperature coefficient (PTC) phenomenon, was observed as usual in other composites, that is, temperature increase results conductivity increase. The dispersity of the fillers were excellently approached by melt extrusion of co-rotational twin screw type and it could be illustrated by X-ray diffraction and SEM.

PTMSP-silica-PEI 복합막이 PTMSP에 TEOS를 가하여 졸-겔 방법에 의해 제조되었다. 복합막의 특성은 1H-NMR, FT-IR, TGA, XPS, SEM, GPC 등을 사용하여 조사하였고, 복합막의 기체투과 특성을 알아보기 위해 H2,O2,N2,CO2,CH4를 사용하였다. PTMSP-silica-PEI 복합막의 기체 투과도는 TEOS의 함량이 증가함에 따라 증가하였다. H2와 CH4는 15 wt% TEOS에서 PTMSP-PEI 복합막보다 투과도와 선택도가 모두 증가하였다. 한편 O2와 CO2는 선택도의 감소없이 투과도가 증가하는 경향을 나타냈다.

Aging characteristics and mechanical properties of commercial 7xxx series Al composites were investigated from viewpoint of ceramic contents. After sintering process, sintered densities of blended and composite powder were 95 and 97%, respectively. Each part was solution-treated at for 60 min and aged . And two-step aging was also performed form . The aging behavior of the sintered composite pow-der was different from that of sintered blended powder. The peak aging time of the composite was rapid as well due to strain. Before aging, mechanical properties of sintered composite powder was significantly higher than that of sintered blended powder. These increments of properties were directly affected by ceramic particles. However, after aging, incremental rate of mechanical properties was slowed in the composite

Cr-C-Ni composites were synthesized in situ from elemental powders of Cr, Ni and C by high energy milling followed by reactive sintering. The milled powders with the grain size in nano-scale were pressed to compacts and sintered. During the following thermal treatment at first the chromium carbide was formed and then the cermets were sintered in one cycle. The interface between the binder phase and the carbide grains of the in situ composite has a good bonding strength as it is not contaminated with oxidation films or other detrimental surface reactions.

The effect of the additives, and MgO, on the sintering and properties of composites was investigated. It is known that MgO is used as additive for improving densification and is applied as sintering aid. In this study, the amounts of TiC were varied in the range of 30-47 wt%. The 0.5 wt% MgO and also varied amounts of from 0.3 to 1 wt% were added into the composites. The sintering of composites was performed in a graphite-heating element furnace at different sintering temperature, 1700 and , for 2 hr under an argon atmosphere. The results demonstrated that the properties of the composites sintered at were much better than those sintered at . The comparisons on physical properties, mechanical properties and microstructure of composites with and without additives were reported. Comparing with other samples, composites with 0.5wt% MgO and exhibited the highest density of approximately 98% of theoretical and flexural strength of 302 MPa.

In this study, multi-ply SiC fiber reinforced Ti-6Al-4V composites have been manufactured by plasma spraying and subsequent vacuum hot pressing. Two different sizes of Ti-6Al-4V feedstock powders were used for plasma spraying to form matrix. A considerable amount of oxygen was incorporated into as-sprayed Ti matrix during plasma spraying, and consequently caused matrix embrittlement. The use of coarse-sized feedstock powder reduced oxygen contamination, but tended to increase fiber spacing irregularity and fiber strength degradation. Longitudinal tensile strength and ductility of the composites were mainly affected by the matrix oxygen content.

The particulate strengthened composites were prepared by a PM process to develop novel copper based composites with reasonable strength, high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion coefficient. Microstructure of the composites was investigated by SEM; the tensile strength, elongation, thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of the composites were examined. A comparative analysis of mechanical and thermal properties of various Cu-matrix composites currently in use was given and the strengthening mechanisms for the composites were discussed.

Two approaches for the fabrication of tailored powder composites with specially distributed pore-grain structure and chemical composition are investigated. Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) followed by microwave sintering is employed to obtain functionally graded materials (FGM) by in-situ controlling the deposition bath suspension composition. and zeolite FGM are successfully synthesized using this technique. In order to fabricate an aligned porous structure, unidirectional freezing followed by freeze drying and sintering is employed. By controlling the temperature gradient during freezing of powder slurry, a unidirectional ice-ceramic structure is obtained. The frozen specimen is then subjected to freeze drying to sublimate the ice. The obtained capillary-porous ceramic specimen is consolidated by sintering. The sintering of the graded structure is modeled by the continuum theory of sintering.

The development of Fe-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) with high content of hard phase has been approached by combining the use of advanced powder metallurgy techniques like high-energy milling (HEM), cold isostatic pressing (CIP) and vacuum sinterings. A 30% vol. of NbC particles was mixed with Fe powder by HEM in a planetary mill during 10h, characteristing the powder by the observation of morphology and microstructure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After of sintering process the variation of density, hardness,carbon content and the microstructural changes observed, permits to find the optimal conditions of processing. Afterwards, a heat treatment study was performed to study the hardenability of the composite.