Main Goals

1.  Comprehensive investigation of the SPD processes (high pressure torsion, HPT; equal channel angular processing, ECAP) for optimizing the synthesis. Understanding of processes underly-ing the structural refinement and the SPD-induced phase transformations. Development of new SPD materials.
2. In-depth understanding of the physical principles leading to the enhancement of the mechanical properties (strength, fatigue lifetime, ductility, fracture toughness) of SPD bulk nanometals.
3. Magnetic properties: [a] Investigation of soft- and hard-magnetic properties of SPD-processed materials. Is it possible to enhance the magnetostriction ? Up to what macroscopic dimensions can magnets be produced from these materials? [b] Development of novel magnetic measurement methods to reliably check SPD nanometals for their magnetic properties (non-destructive testing). [c] How can interfacial charging been used for tuning the magnetic properties ?