This work aimed to produce and evaluate the ballistic behavior of niobo-phosphate glass-doped alumina composites. The niobo-phosphate glass (30% Nb2O5- 30% P2O5- 20% CaO - 20% CaF2, by mol) were added to the alumina in six different weight percentages. The composite with the highest densification, measured by the Archimedes assay, was used for the ballistic tests. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray spectroscopy by dispersive energy (EDX) were also performed. The sintered samples were enveloped on two 1020 steel plates for the residual velocity test. The best results of densification were obtained for the niobo-phosphate glass addition of 4 wt%, which was not detected the AlPO4 phase formation. From the residual velocity test, it was observed a better energy absorption for the doped alumina, in relation to pure alumina. Therefore, it is indicated that the niobo-phosphate glass addition of 4 wt% worked properly as sintering aid for alumina, enhancing its properties and performance.

Techniques for shock consolidation of powders have been developed for different purposes, including the synthesis of diamond from carbon powder. In this work, a new device configuration for dynamic consolidation is proposed. It consists of three coaxial tubes, with a conical cover made of explosive at the top of the device. The inner tube contains the powder to be compacted. The second is accelerated towards the first in order to promote its collapse. The third confines the explosive. A conical cap at the top of the device triggers the explosive. For a preliminary evaluation, two types of explosives, TNT and Composition B, were used. Preliminary analytical results by the impedance matching method indicate that maximum pressures of 35.44 GPa and 48.16 GPa could be achieved using TNT and Composition B, respectively. Maximum temperatures around 1,600 K and 2,500 K for TNT and Composition B, respectively, are expected. These pressure and temperature values are adequate for transforming graphite into diamond. Preliminary Rietveld refinement indicated that nanodiamond is a fraction of approximately 54% of the detonation resulting powder.

Martensitic transformation can be induced by plastic deformation in metastable iron-based alloys, such as stainless steels containing limited amounts of C, Ni and Cr. This transformation takes place at the temperature range from Ms and Md, usually at relatively lower temperature values. The transformed martensite has been associated with maximum ultimate strength and relatively high ductility. In the present work, the tensile fracture characteristics of a metastable AISI type 302 stainless steel was properties were compared to those of a stable AISI type 310 austenitic stainless steel. It was found that in 302 steel, its high degree of metastability and dilute dispersion of inclusions result in higher strength and complex modes of fracture, one of which consisting of martensite surrounding globular inclusions.