Aluminum alloy metal matrix composites are a class of materials object of large and intensive research during the last years. In this study an AA2124 aluminum alloy were processed by means of mechanical alloying added by 10, 20 and 20 percent of silicon carbide (SiC) in vibratory SPEX type mill during 60 and 120 minutes. After this the composites powders obtained were characterized by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) plus Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) to determine the powders morphology. In order to consolidate the AA2124 aluminum alloy composites reinforced by silicon carbide (SiC) composites, the powders processed by high energy ball milling technique were hot extruded and the billets were characterized by SEM to determine the microstructure and the distribution of the reinforced ceramic phase of silicon carbide throughout the aluminum matrix and at last the microhardiness Vickers technique were used to evaluate the mechanical properties.

High performance nanostructured light metals and alloys are very interesting for replacing conventional heavier materials in many industrial components. High Energy Ball Milling and Cryomilling are useful techniques to obtain nanocrystalline powders. In this work the effect of several milling conditions such as rotation speed, time, ball to powder ratio and temperature on the crystallite and particle size and morphology in pure aluminum are presented. X-Ray Diffraction, Laser Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy are used. High energy ball milling at ambient and cryogenic temperature of Al powders rapidly leads to a nanometer size down to about 35 nm. High ball to powder ratio promotes both low crystallite and particle size. Small crystallite size like 18 nm and particle size as 4 μm were achieved in the most energetic conditions at ambient temperature. Isopropyl alcohol used as liquid media and protective atmosphere has a strong influence on the results depending on the milling temperature of Al.

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The simulation of cooling curves of the heat affected zones (HAZ) of API 5L X80 steel was based on the cooling rates of welds made by the process named FCAW-S (Flux Core Arc Welding Self-Protecting). The specimens were analyzed by macroscopy, light microscopy (LM) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) to investigate the effects of cooling conditions on the tensile test and Vickers hardness. A thermo-mechanical simulator showed be able to reproduce the different thermodynamics conditions of points in the HAZ and allowed the reproduction of the thermal cycle obtained by welds were applied to the specimens of API 5l X80 steel. The values of the yield strength, ultimate strength and hardness found in the specimens were lower than those presented by the material as received.