| Abstract Scope |
Materials in the form of powder have been used by nature and humans since ancient times. The relatively young metal powder has been playing an increasingly important role in such advanced fields as nanotechnology and additive manufacturing. In conventional powder metallurgy, metal particles are sintered at high temperatures for long times, destroying any non-equilibrium microstructures that might be desirable. We have used emerging technologies based on severe plastic deformation (SPD) and selective laser melting (SLM), respectively, to produce far-from-equilibrium metals consisting of sophisticated combinations of phases and microstructures. Examples of novel alloys processed by SPD consolidation and SLM of powder will be presented, including Al-C and Al-Al2O3 nanocomposites, hierarchy-structured dual-phase Al/Ti and hybrid titanium alloys. The hybridisation of microstructures, in particular, leads to properties significantly superior to those of the ingredient alloys, heralding a new strategy for future alloys. |