A method of optimising one or more physical properties of an alloy comprises conducting a plurality of trials per an experimental design on a plurality of candidate alloys. Each trial comprises measuring a plurality of values of each physical property of the candidate alloys for different values of a plurality of parameters, wherein the parameters comprise respective concentrations of the two or more constituents, and one or more process parameters. The method further comprises fitting the plurality of values of the physical property and the plurality of parameters to a response surface model; and determining, from the fitted response surface model, optimised values of the parameters that optimise the respective responses; wherein the response surface model describes a non-linear relationship between a time integral of each of the physical property and a linear combination of non-linear functions of the plurality of parameters.

Provided is a thermoelectric material which exhibits excellent thermoelectric characteristics at room temperature; a method for producing this thermoelectric material; and a thermoelectric power generation element using this thermoelectric material. In an embodiment of the present invention, a thermoelectric material contains an inorganic compound that contains magnesium (Mg), antimony (Sb) and/or bismuth (Bi), copper (Cu), and if necessary M (M is composed of at least one element that is selected from the group consisting of selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te)); and inorganic compound is represented by MgaSb.sub.2-b-cBi.sub.bM.sub.cCu.sub.d, wherein a, b, c and d satisfy 3≤a 3.5, 0≤b≤2, 0≤c≤0.06, 0≤d≤0.1, and (b+1)≤2.

Provided is a thermoelectric material which exhibits excellent thermoelectric characteristics at room temperature; a method for producing this thermoelectric material; and a thermoelectric power generation element using this thermoelectric material. In an embodiment of the present invention, a thermoelectric material contains an inorganic compound that contains magnesium (Mg), antimony (Sb) and/or bismuth (Bi), copper (Cu), and if necessary M (M is composed of at least one element that is selected from the group consisting of selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te)); and inorganic compound is represented by MgaSb.sub.2-b-cBi.sub.bM.sub.cCu.sub.d, wherein a, b, c and d satisfy 3≤a 3.5, 0≤b≤2, 0≤c≤0.06, 0≤d≤0.1, and (b+1)≤2.

The present disclosure intends to provide an aircraft member having both high strength and good ductility. Further, the present disclosure intends to provide an aircraft member satisfying required flame resistance. Further, the present disclosure intends to provide an aircraft member satisfying required corrosion resistance. In a method of manufacturing the aircraft member according to the present disclosure, a billet of an Mg—Al—Ca based alloy is extruded at an extrusion temperature that is higher than or equal to 350° C. and lower than or equal to 400° C. and at a ram rate that is higher than or equal to 1 mm/sec and lower than or equal to 3 mm/sec.

The present disclosure provides a method of forming an extruded billet from a coarse-grained magnesium alloy billet. The method includes extruding the coarse-grained magnesium alloy biller at temperatures greater than or equal to about 300° C. to less than or equal to about 360° C. to from the extruded billet. The coarse-grained magnesium alloy billet has an average grain size greater than or equal to about 800 μm, and has a low aluminum content. The coarse-grained magnesium alloy billet includes greater than or equal to about 0.5 wt. % to less than or equal to about 3 wt. % of aluminum. The extruded billet may have a plurality of twins with lenticular morphology, which occupies an area fraction greater than or equal to about 20% of a total area of the extruded billet.

The present disclosure provides a method of forming an extruded billet from a coarse-grained magnesium alloy billet. The method includes extruding the coarse-grained magnesium alloy biller at temperatures greater than or equal to about 300° C. to less than or equal to about 360° C. to from the extruded billet. The coarse-grained magnesium alloy billet has an average grain size greater than or equal to about 800 μm, and has a low aluminum content. The coarse-grained magnesium alloy billet includes greater than or equal to about 0.5 wt. % to less than or equal to about 3 wt. % of aluminum. The extruded billet may have a plurality of twins with lenticular morphology, which occupies an area fraction greater than or equal to about 20% of a total area of the extruded billet.

Methods and systems for high pressure die casting with metal alloys of low silicon content are described. Metal alloys can be modified with nanoparticles to achieve high fluidity and hot cracking resistance to be compatible with high pressure die casting. The die cast metal parts have high strength, high ductility, and high thermal and electrical conductivity. The die cast metal parts can be anodized with different colors.

Methods and systems for high pressure die casting with metal alloys of low silicon content are described. Metal alloys can be modified with nanoparticles to achieve high fluidity and hot cracking resistance to be compatible with high pressure die casting. The die cast metal parts have high strength, high ductility, and high thermal and electrical conductivity. The die cast metal parts can be anodized with different colors.

The disclosure relates to thermoelectric materials prepared by self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) process combining with Plasma activated sintering and methods for preparing thereof. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the new criterion for combustion synthesis and the method for preparing the thermoelectric materials which meet the new criterion.

The disclosure relates to thermoelectric materials prepared by self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) process combining with Plasma activated sintering and methods for preparing thereof. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the new criterion for combustion synthesis and the method for preparing the thermoelectric materials which meet the new criterion.