Processing nanostructured materials: An overview

This article reviews a variety of processing techniques for preparing nanos tructured materials. A bulk nanostructured material can be produced in two- step processes by preparing nanostructured powders with subsequent consolid ation, or directly in one-step processes such as electrodeposition and crys tallization of amorphous solids. Principles, characteristics, and potential of both one-step and two-step processes are discussed this paper. Although those processes have been used to produce full-density samples with little or no grain growth, further improvements are required in order to produce parts large enough for most engineering applications.