Dear Colleagues,

Dispersion strengthening is one of the most important strengthening mechanisms effective at very high temperatures, up to 80 to 90 per cent of the melting point of the base alloy. It involves the addition of extremely small (few nm), hard, thermally stable and uniformly dispersed particles in the matrix, generally in the form of refractory oxides, carbides or nitrides. These fine precipitates restrict the movement of dislocations and minimize grain- and subgrain-boundary sliding even at high temperatures and, therefore, enhance strength and creep resistance. They can also provide a combination of high oxidation and hot corrosion resistance and high stability under neutron irradiation, limiting swelling.

These types of alloys, produced by powder metallurgical routes, were initially developed for aeronautic gas turbine components, although their interest has extended to nuclear power plants, fusion reactors, concentrated solar power plants, chemical reactors or components in high temperature furnaces.

The aim of this Special Issue is to cover a wide range of topics that may include:

• Manufacturing (standard and novel or alternative approaches): atomization, coprecipitation, internal oxidation, mechanical alloying, hot extrusion, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), spark plasma sintering (SPS), severe plastic deformation (SPD), hot and cold rolling, additive manufacturing, annealing, etc.;
• Joining: diffusion bonding, brazing, welding, friction stir welding, cladding by extrusion, etc.;
• Microstructure: formation, nature and stability of dispersed phases, crystallographic texture, recrystallization, correlation with properties, etc.;
• Testing under extreme environments: high-temperature mechanical properties, ductility, irradiation, oxidation, corrosion, , high heat flux, etc.;
• Materials: steels, superalloys, aluminum, titanium or copper alloys, refractory alloys (tungsten, molybdenum), etc.;
• Economical and industrial aspects.

Both numerical and experimental contributions, including approaches to overcome current limitations of these alloys, will be welcomed to make a high quality Special Issue on “New Developments in Dispersion Strengthening of Metals and Alloys” in Metals.

Dr. Nerea Ordas
Guest Editor

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• dispersion strengthening
• mechanical alloying (MA)
• hot isostatic pressing (HIP)
• rolling
• hot extrusion
• additive manufacturing (AM)
• nanoparticle
• transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
• mechanical testing
• irradiation