ABSTRACT
It is now well recognized that the introduction of small amounts of fine dispersoid particles in a crystalline matrix generally results in a considerably stronger alloy. In contrast to precipitate-hardened alloys, which may undergo microstructural changes when exposed to elevated temperatures during the normal lifetime of a structural component, an ideal dispersion-strengthened alloy exhibits microstructural stability even at temperatures close to the melting point of the matrix material. These two features, namely high-temperature strength and microstructural stability, have been the primary impetus in the development of numerous dispersion-strengthened alloys (see Morral, 1977, for a review of the literature up to 1977).
