Complex Metallic Alloys: Fundamentals and Applications

Complex metallic alloys (CMA) encompass a broad family of crystalline compounds made of metals, alloyed with other elements from the periodic table. As opposed to simple crystals, such as diamond and sodium chloride, CMAs possess a complicated microscopic structure that leads to unexpected novel physical and chemical properties. This makes them promising candidates for such applications as thermoelectric devices, scratchproof surfaces or CMA–reinforced structural materials for mechanical engineering.
Covering fundamental research as well as real–world applications, this first book on CMAs at an introductory level treats everything from atomistic details to surface processing. Comprehensive, self–contained chapters provide the latest knowledge on the most salient features of the topic, selected in terms of their relevance to potential technological applications.
From the contents:
∗ Physics of CMAs: theory and experiments
∗ Surface science of CMAs
∗ Metallurgy, preparation and processing, thin films
∗ Surface chemistry of CMAs
∗ Mechanical engineering properties
∗ Thermoelectricity
∗ Catalysis on intermetallic compounds
Edited by one of the most distinguished authorities on quasicrystals and this most important of their subclasses, the contributions elucidate aspects of CMAs from one particular viewpoint: physical and chemical characteristics in the sub–nanometer regime, mesoscale phenomena, preparation and processing of thin films, and large–scale engineering properties. The whole is rounded off by a look at the commercial potential of CMA–based applications.
For PhD students and lecturers alike.

FOREWORD

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF CMAS
Brief History of the Field
Definition of CMAs
Phase Selection and Stability
Unexpected Transport Properties
Plasticity and Metadislocations
Outlook at Potential Applications

II. PHYSICS OF CMAS: THEORY AND EXPERIMENTS
Electronic Structure
Chemical Bonding Effects
Cluster Based Solids Physics
Transport Properties: Inverse Matthiessen Rule, Wiedemann–Franz Law
Phenomenological Approaches
Hierarchical Scales in Reciprocal Space
Anisotropic Physical Properties of CMAs: Electrical and Thermal Conductivity, Magnetic Susceptibility, Hall Coefficient, Thermoelectric Power

III. SURFACE SCIENCE OF CMAS
Stability of Alloy Surfaces
Structural Determination of CMA Surfaces
Electronic Structure
Thin Film Growth on CMA Surfaces
Adhesion, Friction and Wetting Properties of CMA Surfaces

IV. METALLURGY, PREPARATION AND PROCESSING, THIN FILMS
Introduction to Thin Film Science
Deposition by MOVCD
Deposition by PVD
Structural Properties
Mechanical Properties

V. SURFACE CHEMISTRY OF CMAS
Introduction
Surface Chemistry of CMAs under UHV Environment
Surface Chemistry of CMAs under Environmental Conditions
Surface Chemistry and Reactions in Aqueous Solutions
High–Temperature Corrosion

VI. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF CMAS
Introduction to CMAs Designed for Mechanical Applications: Structure and Properties, Possible Applications, Single–Phase CMAs and CMA–Reinforced Composites
Processing and Mechanical Properties of CMAs: Solidification, Glassy Precursors, Powder Metallurgy
The Sintering Route
Surface Mechanical Testing and Potential Applications

VII. THERMOELECTRICITY, THE GRAAL OF CMAS
Materials
Properties
Applications/Demonstrators

VIII. CATALYSIS CATALYSIS ON INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS

IX. CMAS: FROM BASICS TO PRODUCTS


Jean–Marie Dubois heads the institute "Jean Lamour" at the University of Nancy, France. He is a Distinguished Research Director at the National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS) in Paris, permanent invited professor of Dalian University of Technology, China, and acting coordinator of the Complex Metallic Alloys Network of Excellence of the European Union. His research interests focus at the interplay between structural complexity in metals and alloys, electronic structure, bulk and surface properties and potential for technology. In recognition of his lifetime achievements in the field of quasicrystals he received, among others, the 2007 Mehl award from the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.

Esther Belin–Ferré was a Research Director at the CNRS from where she officially retired in 2005. She currently works at the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry – Materials and Radiation, in Paris. Her research is dedicated to the investigation of the electronic structure of solids, prominently quasicrystals and complex alloys, using a variety of spectroscopy techniques. She has authored more than 200 scientific publications and edited three books.


"Finally, it can be concluded that this book fulfils its goal to provide an overview on the current knowledge about complex metallic alloys. It can be recommended to PhD students and lecturers already working on or just starting these topics." (Materials and Corrosion, 2011)