Core-shell structural MWNT/ZrO2 nanocomposites were successfully prepared by one-step hydrolyzing of MWNT-dispersed ZrOCl2.8H2O aqueous solution. A highly conformal and uniform monoclinic zirconia coating was deposited on MWNTs by this new and simple method, and the thickness of the coating increased with the reaction time.

Abstract. Fine grained Fe-34.5Mn-0.04C steel samples with fully recrystallized grain sizes of 3.8 to 2.0 µm were prepared by cold rolling followed by annealing a temperatures of either 650 °C or 800 °C . It is found that a simultaneous increase in both strength and ductility can be obtained by grain refinement, leading to an observation that the best combination of strength and ductility occurs in the sample with the finest recrystallized grain size.

NiWP alloy coatings were prepared by electrodeposition, and the effects of ferrous chloride (FeCl 2), sodium tungstate (Na 2 WO 4) and current density (D K) on the properties of the coatings were studied. The results show that upon increasing the concentration of FeCl 2 , initially the Fe content of the coating increased and then tended to be stable; the deposition rate and microhardness of coating decreased when the cathodic current efficiency (η) initially increased and then decreased; and for a FeCl 2 concentration of 3.6 g l −1 , the cathodic current efficiency reached its maximum of 74.23%. Upon increasing the concentration of Na 2 WO 4 , the W content and microhardness of the coatings increased; the deposition rate and the cathode current efficiency initially increased and then decreased. The cathodic current efficiency reached the maximum value of 70.33% with a Na 2 WO 4 concentration of 50 g l −1 , whereas the deposition rate is maximum at 8.67 µm h −1 with a Na 2 WO 4 concentration of 40 g l −1. Upon increasing the D K , the deposition rate, microhardness, Fe and W content of the coatings increased, the cathodic current efficiency increases first increased and then decreased. When D K was 4 A dm −2 , the current efficiency reached the maximum of 73.64%.

The undercooling of Ni-W-P ternary alloy coating melt was investigated by in situ differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) with the flux processing technique. The results showed that the highest undercooling of Ni-W-P ternary alloy with 359 K was obtained as the thermal treatment temperature of the melt being 1679 K and the cooling rate being 50 K min −1 . When cooling rate is fixed, the change of undercooling depends on the melt processing temperature, and the undercooling will increase rapidly at the first stage. The effects of thermal treatment temperature and cooling rates on the undercooling were discussed.

Fe-Mn-Al-C steel has excellent weight reduction potential. In this study, the microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe-25Mn-11Al-1.0C steel after solution treatment at 1050 °C and aging at 450~650 °C are studied. The results show that with the increase of aging temperature, the strength increases first and then decreases. The plasticity and strength show a trade-off relationship. With the increase of the aging temperature, the plasticity first decreases and then increases. The above-mentioned changes in mechanical properties are closely related to the changes in the morphology and distribution of κ-carbides during the aging process. In general, the precipitation of κ-carbides is beneficial to obtain higher strength, but has a detrimental effect on plasticity.