This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will merge two recent breakthroughs in nanomaterials research to develop composites with an extraordinarily fine scale and unsurpassed homogeneity. By combining the two technologies of melt forming of metastable nanoceramic solid solutions and Transformation Assisted Consolidation (TAC) of the resulting powders, we will be able to produce a new generation of nanocomposite materials. These materials will be bulk samples that are fully dense and still retain the nanoscale grain size. More importantly, the composite will consist of a homogeneous network of two ceramic phases, each of which retards the grain coarsening of the other and provides mechanical reinforcement. The result will be a material that combines the advantages of composite structures with those of nanomaterials. Materials developed in this project will be used for cutting and wear resistant applications such as tools and bearing components. Many other applications exist such as engine components, seals, sensors, mirrors and situations requiring toughness and wear resistance.
