Intermetallic Alloys: Fabrication, Properties and Applications 2017

Dear Colleagues,

Our world advances rapidly. New materials are needed to face novel applications. In the past, new materials were found mostly by applying a "trial and error" approach. The need for generalization and a quicker path towards discoveries pushed governments all over the world to sponsor the so-called "Materials Genome Initiative", i.e., an initiative to identify potential materials with unique properties through systematization of knowledge and the combination of theory and experiment. Thus, new theories and rules are being developed in order to predict the functional materials of tomorrow. Most of the research points to intermetallics. The class of intermetallics possesses an excellent combination of high strength, low density and good corrosion resistance, especially at higher temperatures and in severe environments. Some of intermetallides also exhibit interesting electric–magnetic properties (such as shape memory, thermo-electricity, magnetic ordering, superconductivity, and many others). However, these materials have some drawbacks, such as combination of high strength and poor ductility and lack of industrialized manufacturing and processing technologies. Many specialists all over the world address these drawbacks. Examples of such efforts are iron aluminides and titanium aluminides, which are prominent lightweight, creep- and oxidation-resistant materials, used today in aircraft engines, raising efficiency and reducing weight and CO2 and NOx emissions. Another difficulty encountered in the research of intermetallics is characterization. Potential applications usually require intermetallides to be embedded in more ductile metallic matrices. In such cases, intermetallics appear as small precipitates in multiphase alloys. Characterization of the atomic structure of such nano-sized precipitates is a challenge in of itself. The current Special Issue, "Intermetallic Alloys: Fabrication, Properties and Applications" invites researchers working in all the listed topics to publish their work. Both theoretical and experimental research, review articles, and novel results are welcome. 

Prof. Dr. Louisa Meshi
Guest Editor

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