Dr. Frank Czerwinski

Scientists and engineers for decades searched to utilize magnesium, known of its low density, for light-weighting in many industrial sectors. This book provides a broad review of recent global developments in theory and practice of modern magnesium alloys. It covers fundamental aspects of alloy strengthening, recrystallization, details of microstructure and a unique role of grain refinement. The theory is linked with elements of alloy design and specific properties, including fatigue and creep resistance. Also technologies of alloy formation and processing, such as sheet rolling, semi-solid forming, welding and joining are considered. An opportunity of creation the metal matrix composite based on magnesium matrix is described along with carbon nanotubes as an effective reinforcement. A mixture of science and technology makes this book very useful for professionals from academia and industry.

A resistance of magnesium alloys to surface degradation is paramount for their applications in automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics and general-purpose markets. An emphasis of this book is on oxidation, corrosion and surface modifications, designed to enhance the alloy surface stability. It covers a nature of oxides grown at elevated temperatures and oxidation characteristics of selected alloys along with elements of general and electrochemical corrosion. Medical applications are considered that explore bio-compatibility of magnesium alloys. Also techniques of surface modifications, designed to improve not only corrosion resistance but also corrosion fatigue, wear and other behaviors, are described. The book represents a valuable resource for scientists and engineers from academia and industry.

Heat treatment and surface engineering are seen as crucial elements in the design and manufacture of strategic components in a wide range of market sectors and industries including air, sea and land transportation, energy production, mining, defense or agriculture. This book offers a broad review of recent global developments in an application of thermal and thermochemical processing to modify the microstructure and properties of a wide range of engineering materials. Although there is no formal partition of the book, chapters represent two different application areas of heat treatment. The first group covers the conventional heat treatment with processing of bearing rings, wrought and cast steels, aluminum alloys, fundamentals of thermochemical treatment, details of carbonitriding and a design of cooling units. The second group describes a use of non-conventional thermal routes during manufacturing cycles of such materials as vanadium carbides, titanium dioxide, metallic glasses, superconducting ceramics, nanoparticles, metal oxides, battery materials and slag mortars. A mixture of conventional and novel applications, exploring a variety of processes employing heating, quenching and thermal diffusion, makes the book very useful for a broad audience of scientists and engineers from academia and industry.