by Ka-Man Mak. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text in English; abstract also in Chinese. / by Ka-Man Mak. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / List of tables --- p.v / List of figures --- p.vi / Table of contents --- p.xi / Chapter Chapter One --- Introduction --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.1 --- History of intermetallics --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Properties of intermetallic compounds --- p.1-5 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Magnetic properties --- p.1-5 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Chemical properties --- p.1-6 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Semiconducting properties --- p.1-7 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Superconducting properties --- p.1-7 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Hydrogen storage --- p.1-8 / References --- p.1-9 / Chapter Chapter Two --- Background --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.1 --- Some Behaviours of Intermetallics / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Intergranular and cleavage fracture --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Corrosion --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Oxidation in high-temperature intermetallics --- p.2-5 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Hot corrosion --- p.2-8 / Chapter 2.2 --- Nickel aluminides --- p.2-9 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Ni3Al --- p.2-10 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- NiAl --- p.2-12 / References --- p.2-14 / Chapter Chapter Three --- Oxidation --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.2 --- Specimens preparation --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.3 --- Experiment process --- p.3-5 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Instrumentation --- p.3-5 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Choosing of experimental temperature --- p.3-9 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Methodology --- p.3-9 / Chapter 3.4 --- Results and Discussions --- p.3-10 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Dependence of time --- p.3-10 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Dependence of temperature --- p.3-14 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Dependence of composition --- p.3-15 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Activation energy of oxidation --- p.3-15 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Oxidation morphology and mechanism --- p.3-16 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusions --- p.3-20 / References --- p.3-21 / Chapter Chapter Four --- Hot corrosion --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.2 --- Specimens preparation --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.3 --- Experiment process --- p.4-3 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Instrumentation --- p.4-3 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Choosing of experimental environment and temperature --- p.4-5 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Methodology --- p.4-6 / Chapter 4.3.3.1 --- Experiment --- p.4-6 / Chapter 4.3.3.2 --- Experimental setup --- p.4-8 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results and discussions --- p.4-9 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Dependence of time --- p.4-9 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Dependence of temperature --- p.4-10 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Comparison between hot corrosion with oxidation --- p.4-11 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Dependence of composition --- p.4-12 / Chapter 4.4.4.1 --- Comparison between S1 and S2 --- p.4-12 / Chapter 4.4.4.2 --- Comparison between S3- S7 --- p.4-12 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Results from XRPDS --- p.4-13 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- Study of microstructure --- p.4-13 / Chapter 4.4.6.1 --- Dependence on time --- p.4-14 / Chapter 4.4.6.2 --- Dependence on temperature --- p.4-14 / Chapter 4.4.6.3 --- Dependence on composition --- p.4-14 / Chapter 4.5 --- Corrosion mechanism --- p.4-15 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Chemical reactions --- p.4-15 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Corrosion process --- p.4-16 / Chapter 4.5.2.1 --- Temperature effect --- p.4-16 / Chapter 4.5.2.2 --- Composition dependence --- p.4-17 / Chapter 4.6 --- Conclusions --- p.4-18 / References --- p.4-19 / Chapter Chapter Five --- Conclusionsand suggestions for further studies --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.1 --- Oxidation --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.2 --- Hot corrosion --- p.5-2 / Chapter 5.3 --- Further development --- p.5-3