Microstructural design and tailoring of advanced materials

In order to successfully achieve microstructural tailoring of materials for desired properties, it is necessary to understand processing-structure-property linkages in great detail. Boundaries and interfaces, where most of the "action" occurs, pose particularly difficult problems, but progress in high resolution characterization techniques, especially electron optical, are certainly proving to be enormously helpful. This paper presents some applications to show how such methods have allowed quite successful microstructural tailoring to be accomplished for specified properties. Examples are drawn from our current research programs on low carbon steels, refractory ceramics based on Si3N4, and magnetic alloys.