Synthesis of Bulk Nanostructured Metal Systems

A continuous effort has been made in the research field of processing of ultrafine-grained materials (UFG) through the application of severe plastic deformation (SPD) over the last three decades. In particular, a new research focus was developed for the utilization of conventional SPD techniques with some modification in the procedures to synthesize advanced, hybrid nanocrystalline metals and materials demonstrating exceptional mechanical properties and functionalities. Hybrid nanocrystalline materials refer to composites consisting of two or more constituents at the nanometer level or the nano-to-micro level, leading to a gradient or heterogeneous microstructure formation. Accordingly, this chapter describes the recent developments in strategies for the formation of bulk nanostructured metal systems and UFG materials from powders and dissimilar bulk metals. The further sections discuss the uniquely tuned nanostructures, heterostructures, and multilayered laminates and their improved mechanical properties and additional functionalities of the hybrid nanocrystalline materials processed by different SPD techniques. Recent developments on architecturing of heterostructured nanostructures and their possible future applications are also discussed by considering SPD techniques-nanostructures synergy.