The article presents the study of alumina nanoparticles’ (nanofibers) concentration effect on the strength properties of pure nickel. The samples were obtained by spark plasma sintering of previously mechanically activated metal powders. The dependence of the grain size and the relative density of compacts on the number of nanofibers was investigated. It was found that with an increase in the concentration of nanofibers, the average size of the matrix particles decreased. The effects of the nanoparticle concentration (0.01–0.1 wt.%) on the elastic modulus and tensile strength were determined for materials at 25 °C, 400 °C, and 750 °C. It was shown that with an increase in the concentration of nanofibers, a 10–40% increase in the elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength occurred. A comparison of the mechanical properties of nickel in a wide range of temperatures, obtained in this work with materials made by various technologies, is carried out. A description of nanofibers’ mechanisms of influence on the structure and mechanical properties of nickel is given. The possible impact of impurity phases on the properties of nickel is estimated. The tendency of changes in the mechanical properties of nickel, depending on the concentration of nanofibers, is shown.

Materials based on the NiAl-Cr-Mo system with zirconium oxide or aluminum-magnesium spinel nanoparticle small additions were obtained by spark plasma sintering. Thermodynamic modeling was carried out to predict the phase formation in the NiAl-Cr-Mo system and its change depending on temperature, considering the presence of a small amount of carbon in the system. The phase composition and microstructure of materials were studied. NiAl (B2) and CrMo phases were found in the sintered samples. Bending strength measurements at different temperatures shows that nanoparticles of insoluble additives lead to an increase in bending strength, especially at high temperatures. A fractographic analysis of the sample’s fractures shows their hybrid nature and intercrystalline fracture, which is confirmed by the clearly visible matrix grains similar to cleavage. The maximum strength at 700 °C (475 MPa) was found for material with the addition of 0.1 wt.% zirconium oxide nanoparticles. In the study of internal friction, typical peaks of a nickel-aluminum alloy were found in the temperature ranges of 150–200 °C and 350–400 °C.

The three primary steps in the production of tungsten carbide WC and titanium carbide TiC powders are the preparation of the green mixture, carbidization by furnace annealing, and ball milling of the annealed products. This work performed a comprehensive parametric investigation of these three steps. The impact of several factors was examined including the carbon precursor, the mass and diameter of the milling bodies (balls), the milling time and speed, the temperature and length of the annealing process, the height of the powder in the furnace boats, and the rate at which the furnace boats move. Regression models for every stage of the process were verified by 10-fold validation and used to optimize the synthesis sequence, resulting in high-quality WC and TiC with a grain size below 2 microns and a content of free carbon below 0.1%. Additionally, solid solution (W,Ti)C was fabricated by mechanochemical synthesis from the elemental mixtures; however, further modification of this technique is necessary because of the observed relatively high concentration of residual free carbon (0.2–0.8%) and contamination by Fe.

New data were obtained on the effect of small additions of magnesium oxide nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of aluminum. For the preparation of samples of composites, cold pressing and sintering of powdered aluminum, including those with copper, were used in the forvacuum. As a result, a significant increase in the strength properties of materials modified with magnesium oxide nanoparticles was found: tensile strength, compression, bending strength, and yield strength.

This article describes how to improve the technology of manufacturing "body pump" parts of EPAN composite material reinforced by nanoscale carbon fibers.

In this paper, we present the development of new types of boron carbide-based ceramics. Boron carbide is applied in the electronics and nuclear industries as well as for production of the grinding and abrasive materials, protective plates for body armor. The interaction of boron carbide with chromium nano-oxide additives (1-5 wt.%) during sintering was studied by mass spectrometry. It is shown that the formation of chromium nano-boride takes place at the stages of formation of metallic chromium, the lowest chromium boride and chromium carbide. The maximum solubility of chromium in the boron carbide lattice was found to be 0.5 wt.%. A composite material based on boron carbide, В4С with CrB2 nano-inclusions, was prepared. The bending strength and modulus of normal elasticity were equal to 44.6 MPa and 449.5 GPa, respectively. Micro-hardness and residual porosity were determined to be 40 GPa and 5-7 %.

The optimal modes (temperature, time, pressure force) of spark plasma sintering (SPS) and hot pressing of boron carbide obtained by various methods are determined. The initial powders were obtained from soot and amorphous boron by the mechanochemical synthesis method, by the high-temperature synthesis (SHS) method and by the carbon reduction method. The structure and the properties of SPS sintered and hot-pressed boron carbide blanks were determined. The highest value of the relative density was achieved during SPS sintering of blanks from B4C powders obtained by mechanosynthesis and SHS methods. It was found out the optimal conditions for sintering blanks from B4C powder obtained by mechanosynthesis. The density value reaches 99.0 rel.% at 1500 °C/25 MPa and sintering time of 45 min. For powders obtained by the SHS method, the density of sintered blanks is 98.5 rel.%. at 1800 °C/30 MPa with sintering time of 45 min. The highest value of the relative density was achieved during the hot pressing of blanks from B4C powders obtained by mechanosynthesis.

The article describes the features of hardening metal matrix composite materials with the implementation of small amounts of nano-sized reinforcing additives.