In the present study, ultrafined Zr-V-Fe based alloy powder prepared by a plasma arc discharge process with changing process parameters. The chemical composition of synthesized powder was strongly influenced by the process parameters, especially the hydrogen volume fraction in the powder synthesis atmosphere. The synthesized powder had an average particle size of 50 nm. The synthesized Zr-V-Fe based particles had a shell-core structure composed of metal in the core and oxidse in the shell.

Ultrafine Au-Pb particles prepared by two method, (1) simultaneous evaporation of Au and Pb in inert gas and (2) subsequent vapor condensation of Pb in a differentially evacuated tube onto flying Au nanoparticles prepared by gasevaporation technique, were observed by electron microscopy. In the method (1), the particles that grew at the region where the two smoke masses converged, consisted of alloy phases. In the method (2), the particles consisted of two or three phases of Au, , and Pb phases in turn from the inner part, Pb-rich particles being composed of only two phases of and Pb.

Ultrafine titanium carbide particles were synthesized by the reaction of liquid-magnesium and vaporized TiCl+CCl(x = 1 and 2) solution. Fine titanium carbide particles with about 50 nm were successfully produced by combining Ti and C atoms released by chloride reduction of magnesium, and vacuum was then used to remove the residual phases of MgCl and excess Mg. Small amounts of impurities such as O, Fe, Mg and Cl were detected in the product, but such problem can be solved by more precise process control. The lattice parameter of the product was 0.43267 nm, near the standard value. With respect to the reaction kinetics, the activation energy for the reactions of TiCl+CCland Mg was found to 69 kJ/mole, which was about half value against the use of TiCl+CCl, and such higher reactivity of the former contributed to increase the stoichiometry until the level of TiC and decrease the free carbon content below 0.3 wt.%.

Ultra fine titanium carbide particles were synthesized by novel metallic thermo-reduction process. The vaporized TiC1+ gases were reacted with liquid magnesium and the fine titanium carbide particles were then produced by combining the released titanium and carbon atoms. The vacuum treatment was followed to remove the residual phases of MgC1 and excess Mg. The stoichiometry, microstructure, fixed and carbon contents and lattice parameter were investigated in titanium carbide powders produced in various reaction parameters.

Ultrafine TiC-15%Co powders were synthesized by a thermochemical process, including spray drying, calcination, and carbothermal reaction. Ti-Co oxide powders were prepared by spray drying of aqueous solution of titanium chloride and slurry, both containing cobalt nitrate, fellowed by calcination. The oxide powders were mixed with carbon powder to reduce and carburize at 1100~125 under argon or hydrogen atmosphere. Ultrafine TiC particles were formed by carbothermal reaction at 1200~125, which is significantly lower than the formation temperature (~1) of TiC particles prepared by conventional method. The oxygen content of TiC-15%Co powder synthesized under hydrogen atmosphere was lower than that synthesized under argon, suggesting that hydrogen accelerates the reduction rate of Ti-Co oxides. The size of TiC-15%Co powder was evaluated by FE-SEM and TEM and Identified to be smaller than 300 nm.

Ultrafine TaC-5%Co composite powders were synthesized by spray conversion process using tantalum oxalate solution and cobalt nitrate hexahydrate(Co( . 6). The phase of Ta-Co oxide powders had amorphous structures after calcination below 50 and changed , and phase by heating above . The calcined Ta-Co oxide powders were spherical agglomerates consisted of ultrafine primary particles <50 nm in size. By carbothermal reaction, the TaC phase began to form from 90. The complete formation of TaC could be achieved at 105 for 6 hours. The observed size of TaC-Co composite powders by TEM was smaller than 200 nm.

The effect of bedding on the microstructure of added with ultra-fine SiC was investigated. The bedding and the addition of ultra-fine SiC effectively inhibited grain growth of matrix grain. The microstructures of the specimens sintered with bedding powder consisted of fine-grains as compared with the specimens sintered without bedding powder. In addition, the grain size and the difference of grain size between the specimens sintered with bedding and without bedding was reduced with increasing SiC content. Some ultra-fine SiC particles were trapped in the grains growed. The number of SiC particles trapped in the grains increased with increasing the grain growth. When ultra-fine SiC particles were added in the ceramics, the strength was improved but the toughness was decreased, which was considered to be resulted from the decrease of the grain size