Some aspects of synthesis of nanocrystalline materials

This paper reviews research work at the Institute for Materials and Advance d Processes, University of Idaho, on the synthesis of nanocrystalline mater ials and their consolidation. Nanocrystalline materials have been synthesis ed by a number of 'far from equilibrium' processes including mechanical all oying (MA), mechanochemical processing (MCP), supercritical fluid processin g (SCFP), and severe plastic deformation (SPD), Examples of the materials i nclude the TiAl based intermetallic compounds and composites produced by MA and SPD, Ti base alloys and metal carbides synthesised by MCP, thin film C u produced by SCFP, and Al-Fe alloys produced by SPD. Details of the proces ses used and the enhancement of properties owing to the nanoscale structure s in consolidated material will be presented. The potential of these proces ses to substitute for conventional methods of production will also be discu ssed.