Drawing and normalizing are efficient means for controlling strength, fatigue and machinability of free machining steel. Normally strength and machinability are conflicting properties which need to be optimized. In this study, the effects of normalizing temperature and reduction of area on strength, fatigue and machinability were investigated. Fine grains were generated at lower normalizing temperature and fatigue life was increased with decreasing grain size. Matrix was work hardened and elongated with increasing reduction of area. Inclusions also were elongated and cross-sectional area of inclusions along drawing axis was decreased. The effects of work hardening and grain size on fatigue life were significant, but only work hardening affected machinability. Shape and distribution of inclusions after drawing had little effect on fatigue life and machinability.

PLZT(X/70/100) thin films on MgO(100), Pt/Ti/MgO(100), and Pt/Ti/Si(100) have been prepared by RF-magnetron sputtering process from sintered target with compositions of PLZT(X/70/100), where X=5, 10, and 15, respectively. The effects of substrate temperature, substrate and gas pressure on deposited thin films were studied. Crystalline and surface characterization was analyzed using XRD, SEM, AES, and AFM. X-ray rocking curves were measured to examine the film orientation. It was observed that the gas pressure was the dominant influence on having (001) preferred orientation. As a result, the degree of c-axis orientation increased as gas pressure decreased.