The effects of post-oxidation and sulfnitriding treatments on the phase transformation in the nitrided case of tool steels have been studied. Dense and compact $Fe_3O_4$ layer was formed at the outer surface of nitride compound layer by post-oxidation treatment and multi layer of iron sulfide(FeS) was formed in the compound layer by sulfnitriding treatment. The surface hardness decreased because of formation of the soft oxide or sulfide at the nitride surface. Diffusion layer of nitride case was not affected by post-oxidation treatment or sulfnitriding treatment of nitrided alloy tool steels.

The 7175Al alloy is particularly interesting for its high strength and sufficient ductility, fracture toughness and corrosion resistance. Currently vigorous efforts have been made to develop large rockets usable for various purposes in the space. This has created the demand of big size of 7175Al billet which would be applied to heavy forgings. The aim of this study is to investigate the quality level of big billet and the effect of billet size on the mechanical properties of large 7175Al ring roll forgings. The billets range from 370 mm to 720 mm in diameter were homogenized and forged after direct chill casting. The size and volume fraction of second phase particles In ${\Phi}720$ mm billet are larger than those of ${\Phi}370$ mm billet, and its ductility is lower for the condition of homogenization and T6 treatment. The Cu-rich phases formed in interdendritic sites are considered to provide the preferential crack path during cold upsetting. The fracture toughness of ring roll forgings which are made by ${\Phi}370$ mm billet is higher than those of ${\Phi}720$ mm billet.

$Al_2O_3$-copper alloy has been successfully made by gas atomization, mechanical alloying and hot pressing. In order to investigate microstructure and phase, it has been studied by using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffractometor. Mechanical properties have been examined using hardness tester and compressive tester according to annealing temperature. Although comparatively large Cu-Al powders are milled, the reaction between Cu-Al and $Cu_2O$ occurs and very fine $Al_2O_3$ particles in the matrix particles (5-10nm) are obtained. Compressive strength of this alloy is more than that of GlidCop Al60.

Plasma nitrocarburising and post oxidation were performed on SM45C steel using a plasma nitriding unit. Nitrocarburising was carried out with various methane gas compositions with 4 torr gas pressure at $570^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours and post oxidation was carried out with 100% oxygen gas atmosphere with 4 torr at different temperatures for various times. It was found that the compound layer produced by plasma nitrocarburising consisted of predominantly ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}(N,C)$ and a small proportion of ${\gamma}-Fe_4(N,C)$. With increasing methane content in the gas mixture, ${\varepsilon}$ phase compound layer was favoured. In addition, when the methane content was further increased, cementite was observed in the compound layer. The very thin oxide layer on top of the compound layer was obtained by post oxidation. The formation of Oxide phase was initially started from the magnetite($Fe_3O_4$) and with increasing oxidation time, the oxide phase was increased. With increasing oxidation temperature, oxide phase was increased. However the oxide layer was split from the compound layer at high temperature. Corrosion resistance was slightly influenced by oxidation times and temperatures.

Artificial aging was performed to simulate the microstructural degradation in 2.25CrMo steel arising from long time exposure at $540^{\circ}C$. It was found that the carbides became coarser and spheroidized as aging time increased. An attempt was made to evaluate the microstructural degradation in artificially aging heat treated 2.25CrMo steel by the ultrasonic attenuation and velocity measurements. Ultrasonic velocity was found essentially insensitive to the microstructural changes resulting from aging heat treatment. However, the ultrasonic attenuation was observed to increase with increasing aging time. Also, it was noticed that the change of ultrasonic attenuation with aging time was more sensitive at high frequency regions.