Principles and Synthesis Methods
Metallic nanophases - Definitions, processing and properties

Metal nanophases are produced industrially for specific applications, sometimes without the manufacturer being fully aware of it. They have been in use since the early 1980s, although there are earlier examples:

• aluminum hardened by intermetallic precipitation (Al₂Cu, Mg₂Si, Al₂CuLi) for the aerospace industry [M 240];

• Raney nickel for catalysis, which is a nanofoam obtained by the selective dissolution of NiAl and dates back to 1927.

Today, foundries routinely produce copper with...