Microstructure homogenization

We have shown that strength and stability can be obtained under selected conditions in nanostructured and dispersion reinforced systems. However, for structural applications, a balance of properties is critical - fracture and fatigue behavior of these systems are not well-established. Processing scale-up is another big challenge in these systems most of the properties have been demonstrated on laboratory-scale materials. Process scale-up is required to produce useful quantities of materials for sub-scale component demonstration as well as design property evaluation. The retention of useful microstructures, microstructural homogeneity as well as critical material properties has to be demonstrated in scaled-up materials. While our focus has been on structural applications, there may be other non-structural or functional applications for these systems. Future investigations will be focused on such opportunities. 

Open-pore microcellular aluminium foams can be produced by a process known as replication . This consists in infiltration of NaCl powder preforms by a melt, which is then solidified to form a composite. The NaCl is subsequently leached out with water, to leave a network of open pores, of volume fraction roughly varying between 65 and 90% [15], The foams can be produced to feature good microstructural homogeneity over a comparatively wide range of metal alloy compositions, pore size and component shape. They furthermore serve as attractive model materials for the investigation of microstructure/property relations in metal foams because of their macroscopically uniform and fine-scale microstructure, and because the metal making the foam can be varied with relatively wide latitude and produced free of internal defects. 

Friction Stir Processing for Surface Composite Fabrication and Microstructural Homogenization... 

Assuming that the microstructural homogenization after pore filling occurs by concentric grain growth towards the liquid pocket centre, the homogenized volume of a liquid pocket j can be expressed as... 

A recent technology development in the production of GO electrical steel is the combination of thin slab casting, direct hot rolling, and acquired inhibitor formation. This practice combines tbe advantages of low temperatures, process-shortening, microstructural homogeneity, improved strip geometry, and better surface condition of the products. The slab thick-... 

Kara F, Sener O. Improvement of sintering and microstructural homogeneity of a diphasic muUite. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 2001 21 901-905... 

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