Shape Memory Alloys have attracted the interest of a great number of researchers in the world, and Mexico is not the exception. Research in this field started ten years ago, and is actually an active line covering the classical Cu-based and Ti-Ni alloys, but also the new Fe-based alloys. Although more basic studies have been performed at the present time, interest for applied research and technological goals is increasing. In this work we present a series of studies carried on these Shape Memory Alloys by the groups in Mexico, and explain what the interest of our groups are in the next future in this are of the Materials Science. Interdisciplinary work has been necessary in the characterization of the different alloys, and multiple techniques have been used, like Mossbauer spectroscopy, thermoelectric power, electron microscopy, ultrasound techniques, neutron and x-ray diffraction, calorimetry, among others. Collaboration With other groups in Europe and in the United States have become highly useful and productive, and some examples of such activities are also reported.

Ionized cluster beam deposition (ICBD) technique has been employed to fabricate high-purity crystalline polyimide (PI) film. The pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and oxydianiline (ODA) were deposited using dual ICB sources, Fourier trans forminfraredspectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)study show that the bulk and surface chemical properties and the crystalline structure are very sensitive to the ICBD conditions such as cluster ion acceleration voltage and ionization voltage, At optimum ICBD conditions, the PI films have a maximum imidization, negligible impurities(∼1% isoimide), and a good crystalline structure probably due to the high surface migration energy and surface cleaning effect. These characteristics are superior to those of films deposited by other techniques such as colvent cast, vapowr deposition, or sputtering techniques.

The study of magnetic properties of ferro and ferri-magnetic materials has shown that, due to their different time constants, magnetisation mechanisms (domain wall displacement, spin rotation and wall bulging) can be separated by using the complex permeability formalisms, they exhibit characteristic features in $\mu$′ versus $\mu$" plots. In many cases. the elements (inductances, resistances and capacitances) of the equivalent circuit representing the friquency behaviour, can also be associated with physical parameters of the sample [1-3]. In a different approach, domain wall dynamics can be represented by a motion equation with mass, damping and restoring force terms [4]. In this paper, we show that these two approaches are consistent and how they are related.

During the past five years a very successful effort has been made to improve existing and develop new aluminium alloys. The progress achieved has been possible because of the development of new production methods, such as powder metallurgy and spray/deposition. These methods make use of rapid solidification process which alloys compositions other than those achieved by conventional ingot metallurgy. The ingot metallurgy of the 2000 and 7000 series used thus far, as well as the age hardening Al-Li alloys, show several disadvantages caused by the production process. Such problems are primarily coarse intermetallic constituent phases, coarse grains and macrosegregation, resulting in low fracture toughness. The present contribution reports results of an experimental investigation performed on a modern high strength spay deposited aluminium alloy of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu (7075 and the modified 7150X) type. Results are given in terms of its microstructural characterization by using X-ray diffractomertry and transmission electron microscopic. The mechanical propierties of those alloys in the as-extruded and extruded+aged condition were evaluated by using microhardness Vickers, tensile test and fracture toughness measurements.

We have studied the effect of platinum addition on the supercon ducting properties of YB $a_2$C $u_3$$O_{7-x}$ (123) compound and elucidated the mechanism of fine dispersion of $Y_2$BaCu $O_{5}$(211) particles in YB $a_2$C $u_3$$O_{7-x}$ superconductor prepared by melting method from the metallurgical point of view. In this study, BaCu $O_2$ and CuO-rich phase unreacted during the peritecitc reaction markedly decreased by the 211 powder addition. The 211 particle of Pt-fee sintered samples exhibited 8~10$\mu$m in size, but in 1wt%Pt-added sample, 211 particles were finely dispersed in 123 matrix and the size of 211 particle was about 1~2$\mu$m. And, the critical temperature( $T_{c. zero}$) of Pt doped samples was 91.5K and the transport critical current density ( $J_{c}$) of Pt-doped samples was much more than 10$^4$A/$\textrm{cm}^2$. The high $J_{c}$ and fine dispersion of 211 particles of Pt doped YB $a_2$C $u_3$$O_{7-x}$ superconductor are attributed to $Ba_4$CuP $t_2$ $O_{8}$ compounds formed during the partial melting, which were considered als nucleation sites of 211 particles, rather than Pt inself.han Pt inself.

The ceramic high transition temperature superconducting materials present many interesting characteristics that will be analysed from two points of view: physical behavior, and chemical aspects. From the first point of view, these materials display an enormous variety of different physical properties. At low doping levels the normal state shows antiferromagnetism and insulating behavior. At intermediate doping levels, an anomalous metallic state appears and, the optimum Tc in the superconducting state is generated. With increasing doping a normal metallic state develops and superconductivity starts to disappear. Many of the physical phenomena that describe the overall behavior when doping levels are changed will be discussed. From the poing of view of the chemical aspects. we well discuss some of the problems involved in the methods of preparation with particular emphasis on defects, crystal structures, critical currrents, and applications in technology.

ITO투명전극/WO$_3$박막/LiClO$_4$-PC/백금 대향전극 구조를 갖는 일렉트로 크로믹 소자를 구성하여 WO$_3$박막의 일렉트로크로믹 특성을 조사하였다. WO$_3$박막의 coloration의 LiClO$_4$-PC 유기전해질과 ITO 투명전극으로부터 Li$^{+}$이온과 전자들의 이중주입에 의하여 청색으로 나타났으며, 전기화학전인 산화반응에 의하여 bleaching 현상이 가역적으로 일어났다. Coloration 과 bleaching 현상, 광학밀도, 구동전압 및 응담속도등의 일렉트로크로믹 특성은 WO$_3$ 박막의 성장 조건, WO$_3$박막 두께, ITO 투명전극의 sheet resistance, 대향전극 및 인가전압에 크게 의존하는 것으로 밝혀졌다.

Deformation behavior of compatible polymer blends was studied using scanning electron, optical, and transmission electron microscopies. Four different compatible systems were employed and charaterized in this investigation : polystyrene(PS) and polyphenylene oxide(PPO), polystyrene(PS) and polyvinlmethylether(PVME), polystyrene(PS) and poly $\alpha$-methylstyrene(P$\alpha$MS). Individual craze and shear deformation zone microstructures were examined by transmission microscopy (TEM). For TEM observations, specimens deformed in-situ on a TEM grid were utilized. Quantiative analysis of these crazes and shear deformation zones was obtained from the nicrodensitometry of the TEM negatives in the manner developed by Lauterwasser and Kramer. Microdensitometry resulys showed that the fibril extension ratio decreased as the PPO content increased in the PS/PPO blends, and finally, for 100% PPO, only shear deformation zones were observed. For the PS/PVME blends, the ribril extension ratio also decreased as the VME content increased. For the PS/P$\alpha$MS blends, the fibril extension ratio increased as the P$\alpha$MS content increased, For the PPO/P$\alpha$MS blends, the fibril extension ratio increased as the P$\alpha$MS content increased.