Recent trends on studies of nanostructured metals

Abstract

Nanostructured metals have been intensively investigated as these materials have abundant interfaces (grain boundaries and phase boundaries) that can drastically impact the mechanical and physical properties of materials. Significant research has been performed to understand the deformation mechanisms of nanostructured metals, and many of the major findings have been adopted by industry for the manufacturing of advanced materials for various applications. In this article, we highlight several recent breakthroughs and briefly introduce the focus of the articles in this issue that provide a more in-depth understanding of the forefronts of the field. Finally, we point out some of the research directions that may warrant further investigations.