This chapter discusses the growing role of powder metallurgy in the production of intermetallic, Heusler, and high-entropy alloys. It reviews the challenges of producing these materials by conventional methods and the advantages of sinter-based PM techniques. It explains why PM processes are better suited for complex materials than casting and compares the properties of intermetallic, Heusler, and high-entropy alloys prepared by casting and powder-metal techniques.

This chapter, presented in a question-and-answer format, covers many practical aspects of high-entropy alloys (HEAs). It provides clear and concise answers to more than 50 questions, imparting knowledge on alloying elements, heat treatments, diffusion mechanisms, phase formation, lattice distortion, crystal and grain structures, structure-property relationships, microstructure control, and characterization methods. It likewise explains how to calculate the effect of strengthening processes on the mechanical properties of HEAs and offers insights on how to balance strength, ductility, and density for specific applications. It also provides information on twinning behaviors, stacking faults, elastic properties, coating and film deposition methods, manufacturing challenges, and the use of computational techniques for alloy design.

This appendix is a compilation of approximate equivalent hardness numbers and tensile strengths for carbon and alloy steels in the annealed, normalized, and quenched-and-tempered conditions.

This appendix contains tables listing the physical and mechanical properties of stainless steel engineering alloys. The physical properties covered are density, modulus of elasticity, coefficient of thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, specific heat, and electrical resistivity. The mechanical properties listed include yield strength, tensile strength, elongation and hardness.

The mechanical behavior of a material is its response to an applied load or force. Important mechanical properties are strength, hardness, stiffness, and ductility. This chapter discusses three principal ways in which these properties are tested: tension, compression, and shear. Important tensile properties that can be determined by the tensile test include yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, ductility, resilience, and toughness. The chapter describes the effects of stress concentrations on ductile metals under cyclic loads. Other topics covered include combined stresses, yield criteria, and residual stresses of metals.

This chapter focuses on mechanical behavior under conditions of uniaxial tension during tensile testing. It begins with a discussion of properties determined from the stress-strain curve of a metal, namely, tensile strength, yield strength, measures of ductility, modulus of elasticity, and resilience. This is followed by a section describing the parameters determined from the true stress-true strain curve. The chapter then presents the mathematical expressions for the flow curve. The chapter reviews the effect of strain rate and temperature on the stress-strain curve and describes the instability in tensile deformation and stress distribution at the neck in the tensile specimen. It discusses the processes involved in ductility measurement and notch tensile test in tensile specimens. The parameter that is commonly used to characterize the anisotropy of sheet metal is covered. Finally, the chapter covers the characterization of fractures in tensile test specimens.

This article discusses the role of alloying in the production and use of carbon and low-alloy steels. It explains how steels are defined and selected based on alloy content and provides composition and property data for a wide range of designations and grades. It describes the effect of alloying on structure and composition and explains how alloy content can be controlled to optimize properties and behaviors such as ductility, strength, toughness, fatigue and fracture resistance, and resistance to corrosion, wear, and high-temperature creep. It also examines the effect of alloying on processing characteristics such as hardenability, formability, weldability, machinability, and temper embrittlement. In addition, the article provides an extensive amount of engineering data with relevance in materials selection.

Modern gears are made from a wide variety of materials. Of all these, steel has the outstanding characteristics of high strength per unit volume and low cost per pound. Although both plain carbon and alloy steels with equal hardness exhibit equal tensile strengths, alloy steels are preferred because of higher hardenability and the desired microstructures of the hardened case and core needed for the high fatigue strength of gears. This chapter provides an overview of the key considerations involved in the selection and application of heat treating processes for alloy steel gears and serves as an introduction to the subsequent chapters in this book.

This appendix includes a temperature conversion table, a table containing equivalent hardness numbers, and a unit conversion table.

This appendix lists approximate equivalent hardness numbers and tensile strengths for Vickers hardness numbers for steel.

This appendix lists approximate equivalent hardness numbers and tensile strengths for Brinell hardness numbers for steel.

This appendix lists approximate equivalent hardness numbers and tensile strengths for Rockwell C and B hardness numbers for steel.