ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 and 5 described the explosive compaction of metallic materials and composite materials respectively. In comparison to metallic materials ceramics and super hard materials require much higher pressures for compaction. Of course, it is not really difficult to produce even such pressures using explosives. But it is difficult to obtain a well-consolidated product only by increasing the pressure, because hard materials have low ductility and cannot withstand the accompanying high tensile stresses. These stresses produce cracks. This has been a major difficulty impeding the commercialization of explosive compaction. It is hoped that all these problems will be overcome if many groups begin to work in the area of explosive compaction. At present, there is much hope for this unique technique, with initial results indicating that it may turn out to be the best way for producing bulk materials and products of a variety of difficult-toconsolidate ceramic powders and super-hard materials including diamond [1-14].
