Ferrtic/martensitic and ODS steels were fabricated by the mechanical alloying process, and their microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated. The 9Cr-1W and 9Cr-1W-0.3Ti-0.35Y2O3 (in wt.%) steels were prepared by the same fabrication process such as mechanical alloying, hot isostatic pressing, and hot rolling processes. A microstructural observation of these steels indicated that the Ti and Y2O3 additions to 9Cr-1W steel were significantly effective to refine the grain size and form nano-sized Y-Ti-O oxide particles. As a result, the tensile strengths at room and elevated temperatures were considerably enhanced. Considerable improvement of the creep resistances at 700°C was also evaluated. It is thus concluded that 9Cr-1W ODS steel with Ti and Y2O3 additions would be very effective in improving the mechanical properties especially at elevated temperatures.

Recently, the need to develop fuel efficient transport systems has led to the development of a range of materials of low density, high stiffness and high strength each can be made at a reasonable cost. The aluminium based alloys are particularly important because of their improved mechanical, physical and technical properties. Fatigue failures have been recognised since the early days of the industrial revolution. Fatigue response of most of materials is related with the microstructural variations in the structure. Hence, in this study, influence of particle size and volume fractions on fatigue properties of Al-alloy composites was investigated. It was found that particle size and volume fraction of reinforcement particles play significant role on fatigue propagation rates, stress intensity threshold values, crack tip opening distance and crack tip plastic zone sizes.

The invasion, development and number of generations of Heterodera goettingiana in pea plants were examined in a glasshouse experiment after plants were treated with herbicides, recommended for pea cultivation (terbutryn + terbuthylazine, methabenz rhiazuron, prometryne, bentazone, cyanazine, pendimethalin, benthiocarb and fluazifop-butyl). There was a non-target effect of herbicides. Prometryne, cyanazine and benthiocarb reduced female number in the roots. This effect may be due to the inhibition of hatching or/and retardation of female development.