Some non-equilibrium thermophysical problems to be studied in materials processing

A lot of non-equilibrium high technologies have recently been developed in materials processing, such as spray forming; metal atomization by electric fluid dynamics; self-propagating high temperature synthesis; in situ contact reaction process in melt for making composites and electropulsing effect on structure modification and damage reversal etc. A series of non-equilibrium thermophysical problems arise consequently with these high technologies. Not only the real-time measurements are difficult to deal with, but also the principle analyses need to be treated carefully. It would be found that some of the normal thermophysical rules should be evaluated again, when the thermophysical processes under extreme conditions are further studied. Some possible ways for solving these abnormal thermophysical problems are tentatively suggested in this paper, such as the reconstruction of governing functions; the simplified treatment of complex processes and making use of the rules of other disciplines etc. It is known from these examples that a series of non-equilibrium thermophysical problems arising from recent high technologies of materials processing are remained to be actively studied. It gives a virgin land for thermophysicists to explore. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.