Semisolid metal (SSM) processing is a special die casting process, where partially solidified metal slurry is injected into a die cavity to form die cast components. This article discusses the flow behavior of an SSM slurry with emphasis on viscosity, rheological behavior, and yield stress. It illustrates the microstructural formation of semisolids under forced convection. The article concludes with an illustration that compares two SSM processes, namely, thixocasting and rheocasting.

This article focuses on the modeling and simulation of diffusion-controlled processes related to both materials processing such as heat treatments, and materials degradation from a practical perspective by using the one-dimensional (1-D) sharp interface approach. It describes various diffusion simulation models, such as one-phase simulations, moving phase-boundary simulations, and dispersed system simulations. The article presents case studies that illustrate some examples where diffusion simulations have been applied to industrial-based problems, with an emphasis on the approaches used and the lessons learned from performing such simulations.

This article focuses on the tribological behavior of group 1, 2, and 3 cobalt-base alloys, namely, carbide-type wear-resistant alloys and laves-type wear-resistant alloys. The behavior includes hardness, yield strength and ductility, and fracture toughness. The article contains a table that lists the nominal compositions and typical applications of cobalt-base alloys. It discusses the properties and relative performance of specific alloys when subjected to the more common types of wear. These include abrasive wear, high-temperature sliding wear, rolling-contact fatigue wear, and erosive wear.

This article describes the two commonly used standardized tests for determining the mechanical properties of thermal spray coatings: hardness testing and tensile adhesion testing. It discusses the destructive and non-destructive methods of residual-stress measurement. Electrochemical testing methodologies include two distinctly different methods: direct and alternating current impedance techniques for assessing the corrosion resistance of coating attributes. The article also reviews the testing methods for determining thermomechanical and environmental stability of thermal barrier coatings. It discusses the wear testing methodologies that are standardized by ASTM, including the pin-on-disk, block-on-ring, dry sand/rubber wheel, erosion, metallographic apparatus abrasion, fretting wear, cavitation, reciprocating ball-on-flat, impact, and rolling contact fatigue test. The article concludes with a discussion on the methods of testing abradability and erosion resistance in abradable coatings.

Catastrophic failure best typifies the characteristic behavior of brittle solids in the presence of cracks or crack-like flaws under ambient conditions. This article provides a description of the concepts of fracture mechanics of brittle solids and focuses on the various testing methods developed to characterize the fracture behavior of brittle solids with examples. These include the fracture toughness test method and R-curve test method at ambient and elevated temperatures. The article also includes information on the evaluation of fracture-toughness test results and the behavior of R-curve.

This article is a compilation of definitions for terms related to engineering materials, including plastics, elastomers, polymer-matrix composites, adhesives and sealants, ceramics, ceramic-matrix composites, glasses, and carbon-carbon composites.