A new processing route for net-shaped nanoparticulate materials

This paper reviews our recent investigations on the synthesis and processing of nanocrystalline (NC) alloy/composite powder and suggests a new processing route for fabricating bulk NC materials. Development of nanoparticulate materials technology is essential to processing of highly functional nanoparticulate materials and components with small and complex shape. For this purpose, two core technologies of producing nanoalloy and nanocomposite powders and net shaping the powders into small device and component parts are very important. Relating to consolidation of nanopowder, the pressure-assisted sintering process for consolidation is usually known to be suitable for both reaching full density and suppressing grain growth. However, the pressureless consolidation is inevitable for bulk processing of nano powders into small-sized and complex-shaped nanomaterial parts. In this overview, a new processing concept for net-shaped nanoparticulate materials such as the two processing routes of the intrinsic and extrinsic type is introduced; the intrinsic type process is for processing bulk nanostructured alloy and composites that have the same composition as the nanopowder (Fe–Ni), and the extrinsic one is for the nanoparticle dispersed ceramic composite materials (Al2O3–Ni).