MODELLING AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF METAL AND CERAMICS NANOCOMPOSITES: MANAGING OF 'OPTIMISATION - PROCESSING - PROPERTIES' CHAIN

摘要

The non-homogenous composites, which have engineered properties and composition distribution, are known as functionally graded (gradated) materials (FGMs). They usually have gradients of composition, phase distribution, porosity, and related properties (density, hardness, electrical resistance, thermal conductivity, modulus, etc.). These gradients are especially introduced and quantitatively controlled in order to achieve an improvement in properties of the final component. Many applications are already known as areas of opportunity for the FGM concept (about 200 candidate applications were identified in the Japanese National programmes as well as in Germany and the USA) [1]. In this work some non-traditional materials solutions as well as engineering concepts are discussed in respect to the materials application problems in several fields, such as energy conversion and metalworking. For these materials emphases is made on (i) FGM-components design, (ii) micromechanical and thermodynamic modelling of FGM behaviour, (iii) modelling and experimental observation of sintering non-uniformity for gradated structures.