A review on thermal stability of nanostructured materials

Abstract

Nanostructured materials, with average grain size in nanometer scale and a high volume fraction of grain boundaries, were known to have advanced mechanical properties, such as high strength, high wear resistance and so on. However, the low thermal and mechanical stabilities have become an important issue to block their practical applications. This paper first reviewed the thermal stability of nanostructured materials, then reviewed the kinetic and thermodynamic strategies for enhancing thermal stability of nanostructured materials as well as their synergy effect. Especially the kinetic approach can stabilize the nanostructure to higher temperatures. The microstructural architecture induced thermal stability was finally reviewed and the generation mechanisms was discussed in point of atomic experiments and perception. Outlook on thermal stability of nanostructured materials was also addressed at the end of paper.