This slim volume is an extensive review of the current understanding of the response of nanostructured materials to extreme operating conditions, such as high temperature, flux of high-energy neutrons, high pressure, mechanical stress, and oxidizing environments. The emphasis is on metallic materials, especially Cu alloys. Graphene-based materials, fullerenes, polymeric materials, nanoglasses, and glass ceramics are not covered.
The book has six chapters, including an introduction and a brief conclusion. The introduction documents the growth of scientific interest in nanostructured materials and stresses the need to study the behavior of nanomaterials under extreme conditions. This chapter also presents Herbert Gleiter’s classification of nanomaterials into 12 groups based on the shapes of the nanoscale features and chemical composition of the components of the nanostructure. Chapter 2 deals with the high-temperature environment and the thermodynamics and kinetics of grain growth. The authors identify the lack of reliable thermodynamic data as a key limitation in this field. The discussion brings out the interplay of structural relaxation, redistribution of excess free volume, diffusion, and recrystallization in multicomponent nanostructures at elevated temperature. Chapter 3 focuses on the effects of ion and neutron irradiation on the structure and properties of nanomaterials. The authors effectively highlight recent studies on the radiation tolerance of nanocrystalline oxides and rapid grain growth under irradiation. The material addresses both fission and fusion reactor applications.
Chapter 4 reviews the effects of severe plastic deformation and cyclic loading on nanostructure formation and phase transformation. This chapter also explores the challenge of achieving high density while retaining nanostructural features during processing under extreme loads and high temperatures. Chapter 5 discusses the effects of corrosion on nanomaterials. The behavior of a variety of alloys and high melting point compounds in liquid media and high-temperature oxidizing environments is reviewed. The concluding chapter identifies areas for further research. Each chapter ends with a section on applications and a long list of references. The book has more than 50 plots, micrographs, and schematic diagrams.
The book would have benefited from more careful copy editing of the English language. Moreover, although a list of acronyms is provided at the front of the book, the excessive use of acronyms makes the text difficult to read. However, the integration of theoretical approaches and simulation results with experimental data offers fresh insights into the behavior of nanomaterials. Overall, this book will serve as a useful reference for researchers interested in nanomaterials driven to extremes.
Reviewer: Ram Devanathan is Technical Group Manager of Reactor Materials and Mechanical Design, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA.
