- Researchers - Head Researcher:　 Toshihiko ABE, Dr. Eng. Senior Researcher: Toshio TAKAHASHI, Dr. Eng. Senior Researcher: Hitoshi HASHIMOTO, Dr. Eng. Senior Researcher: Shuji TADA, Dr. Eng. Senior Researcher: Yong-ho PARK, Dr. Eng. Senior Researcher: ZhengMing SUN, Dr. Eng. - RESEARCH OUTLINE OF THE LABORATORY - 　In this laboratory, researchers are mainly forcussing on the research and development of high performance new materials such as intermetallic compounds and iron-base advanced materials by controlling the microstructure using several types of processing technologies. Titanium aluminide with high strength and Peltier materials with high figure of merit have been synthesized by the latest available powder metallurgical techniques including mechanical alloying, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis and pulse discharge sintering. 　For the iron-base materials such as AGS (austempered graphite steel) and ADI (austempered ductile iron), the microstructure is controlled by gradient temperature heat treatment, for developing materials posessing a good combination of high strength and fracture toughness. - MAIN RESEARCH RESULTS - 　The carbon dioxide emission, as one of the main greenhouse gases, has gained considerable attention since the problem of global warming is threatening the normal human life. Quite a large part, in Japan about 20%, of the carbon dioxide emission comes from the transportation industry, in which 90% is from the automobiles. 　An effective way to reduce the automobile exhaust emission is to improve the efficiency of engine by introducing light-weight and heat-resistant parts relevant to valve system and piston system. Titanium aluminides, especially gamma-base TiAl alloys are found to be a promising candidate due to their low density, high strength and high modulus as well as good oxidation resistance. In this laboratory a TiAl exhaust valve is developed for an automobile engine by pulse discharge sintering of a TiAl powder which was made by mechanical alloying. The manufactured TiAl valve weighs approximately 60 % of the current heat-resistant steel valve and withstands a service temperature of 100℃ higher than the steel valve. This is expected to improve the performance of the engine and is prospective to be helpful in the reduction of carbon dioxide emission. - [JOINT WORK WITH REGIONAL ENGINEERS & RESEARCHERS] - 　In the 3-year period of 1997-1999, as part of the so-called Regional Consortium Projects, this laboratory is engaged in a project entitled"Research on new shape-forming and processing technologies of heat-resistant and hard materials". The project aims at the application of the section's research results on mechanical alloying, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis and pulse discharge sintering, to the development of exhaust valve and sputtering target made of titanium aluminides, in collaboration with a university and private enterprises in Tohoku region.