Metal matrix composites (MMC) have been used in industrial forms for several decades; however, they continue improving. MMC usually consist of two different phases: one phase is a matrix (usually a metal) and the other is a reinforcement (usually a ceramic or a metal). These two phases are mixed by an appropriate technique in order to obtain a homogeneous material with specific properties that are different from the two monolithic materials.MMC are mainly used in the automotive, sporting, and spatial industries, although some are used in various high-temperature applications. MMC may be designed and produced to obtain certain mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties for specific applications. For example, high-temperature MMC can be used in automotive engine components, turbines, and spaceships, among others.Among ceramic, polymeric, and metallic matrices, the most widely used and studied has been MMC. Only a few years ago, MMC was studied by only a handful of researchers worldwide; now, MMC has become one of the most popular research subjects in materials science. Particular attention has been focused in Al and Mg alloys used as matrices, which are widely used in metallic matrix composites (MMC). The advantages of magnesium and its alloys used as a composite's matrix are their high specific strength and stiffness, good damping capacities, and dimensional stability.There are many books about composite materials, covering all aspects related to processing, characterization, and applications of MMC. However, this book, in addition to covering all these aspects, includes a wide review of experimental results in wetting, fabrication techniques, thermodynamics, kinetics, corrosion, wear, and welding in relation to MMC. All this research was conducted by our group of researchers over more than 30 years at

A non-conventional heat treatment in API X-65 steel samples was carried out by heating the steel up to 1,050 °C and holding for 30 min at this temperature. Subsequently, the samples were water cooled or air cooled. This heat treatment aims to approach the Nb characteristics to the beginning of the solubility at this temperature, for obtaining partial austenitic grain growth. To assess the effect of the heat treatment, tensile testing and hardness measurements were performed as well as metallography. A signifi cant improvement in tensile strength was obtained for samples water cooled, while microhardness was maintained. This behavior is due to the acicular ferrite microstructure obtained. With this microstructure the steel improved its mechanical strength while maintaining its resistance to the stress sulfi de cracking (SSC) and therefore will enable reduction of the wall thickness of pipelines.

No abstract

There are increasingly more aggressive hydrocarbons, as they have high contents of hydrogen sulfide/carbon dioxide, under conditions of high pressure/high temperature (HP/HT). For driving these aggressive hydrocarbons, one of the most cost-effective solutions is the coating and cladding on conventional carbon steel using a corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA). The overlay is one of the methods used for the application of this cladding. However, among the main problems of this method is the dilution and microsegregation, which causes a decrease in corrosion resistance and its subsequent failure. In this work, the application of the gas-shielded metal arc welding process (GMAW) with the interaction of magnetic fields of low intensity is proposed to reduce these problems. API X60 was used as base material and 316L as overlay. The interaction of the magnetic field with the molten metal causes the temperature to become homogeneous, induces grain refinement, reduces the extend of the heat-affected zone (HAZ), leads to a decrement in microhardness, a decrease in dilution and, micro-segregation, as well as the elimination of the magnetic blow, stabilizing the arc. This coating technique can be applied to pipelines and fittings as the trim of submarine equipment used for driving aggressive hydrocarbon.

No abstract