Bulk nanostructured alloy formation with controllable grain size

It was demonstrated that bulk nanostructured materials can be prepared by r apidly solidifying a eutectic alloy melt. Prior to solidification, the unde rcooled melt has to undergo liquid phase spinodal. decomposition. Although the average grain size of an as-prepared bulk nanostructured alloy can be a s small as 3-6 nm, there is actually little control over its grain size. It turned out that by introducing intermediate isothermal annealing to the ra pid solidification process, bulk nanostructured alloy ingots of diameter > 1 cm can be synthesized with controllable grain size. (C) 2000 Acta Metallu rgica Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.