• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.98-107
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• 2017

Pd-based membranes have been widely used in hydrogen purification and separation due to their high hydrogen diffusivity and infinite selectivity. However, it has been difficult to fabricate thin and dense Pd-based membranes on a porous stainless steel(PSS) support. In case of a conventional PSS support having the large size of surface pores, it was required to use complex surface treatment and thick Pd coating more than $6{\mu}m$ on the PSS was required in order to form pore free surface. In this study, we could fabricate thin and dense Pd membrane with only $3{\mu}m$ Pd layer on a new PSS support manufactured by metal injection molding(MIM). The PSS support had low surface roughness and mean pore size of $5{\mu}m$. Pd membrane were prepared by advanced Pd sputter deposition on the modified PSS support using fine polishing and YSZ vacuum filling surface treatment. At temperature $400^{\circ}C$ and transmembrane pressure difference of 1 bar, hydrogen flux and selectivity of $H_2/N_2$ were $11.22ml\;cm^{-2}min^{-1}$ and infinity, respectively. Comparing with $6{\mu}m$ Pd membrane, $3{\mu}m$ Pd membrane showed 2.5 times higher hydrogen flux which could be due to the decreased Pd layer thickness from $6{\mu}m$ to $3{\mu}m$ and an increased porosity. It was also found that pressure exponent was changed from 0.5 on $6{\mu}m$ Pd membrane to 0.8 on $3{\mu}m$ Pd membrane.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.286-300
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• 2016

Pd-Ag alloy membranes have attracted a great deal of attention for their use in hydrogen purification and separation due to their high theoretical permeability, infinite selectivity and chemical compatibility with hydro-carbon containing gas streams. For commercial application, Pd-based membranes for hydrogen purification and separation need not only a high perm-selectivity but also a stable long-term durability. However, it has been difficult to fabricate thin, dense Pd-Ag alloy membranes on a porous stainless steel metal support with surface pores free and a stable diffusion barrier for preventing metallic diffusion from the porous stainless steel support. In this study, thin Pd-Ag alloy membranes were prepared by advanced Pd/Ag/Pd/Ag/Pd multi-layer sputter deposition on the modified porous stainless steel support using rough polishing/$ZrO_2$ powder filling and micro-polishing surface treatment, and following Ag up-filling heat treatment. Because the modified Pd-Ag alloy membranes using rough polishing/$ZrO_2$ powder filling method demonstrate high hydrogen permeability as well as diffusion barrier efficiency, it leads to the performance improvement in hydrogen perm-selectivity. Our membranes, therefore, are expected to be applicable to industrial fields for hydrogen purification and separation owing to enhanced functionality, durability and metal support/Pd alloy film integration.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.68-72
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• 2002

For the evaluation of a flaw in a welded stainless steel by the Time of Flight Diffraction(TOFD) Method, we have made the reference specimen for experimentation. As a result, we could analyze a specific character and the inner state of the structure in a welded stainless steel and we came to the conclusion as followed. (1) For analyze the structure state of a section in a welded stainless steel through the optical microscope, we could have analyzed the generated shape and the location of a flaw and the inner parts of the structure state through the microscope of eighty magnification and two hundred magnification about the soundness, the heat affected zone(HAZ) and the welded part. (2) Through the comparison with the shape and the size of a flaw in the welded part about the conventional ultrasonic test and the TOFD Method, we could make an observation the special character of the TOFD Method and principles. (3) We analyzed and collected the merit of the TOFD Method on the basis of the experimental result by the shape and the size of a flaw in the inner welded parts. So, we made up a base that we could use as a basic data for a similar flaw like that. Through the study as mentioned above, we could make an observation the flaw detective method and principles used in the TOFD Method.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.248-259
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• 2021

This study examined the influence of post weld heat treatment (PWHT) conditions on corrosion behaviors of laser-welded super duplex stainless steel tube. Due to the high cooling rate of laser welding, the phase fraction of ferrite and austenite in the weld metal became unbalanced significantly. In addition, the Cr₂N particles were precipitated adjacent to the fusion line, which can be susceptible to the localized corrosion. On the other hand, the phase fraction in the weld metal was restored at a ratio of 5:5 when exposed to temperatures above 1060 ℃ during the post weld heat treatment. Nevertheless, the high beltline speed during the PWHT, leading to the insufficient cooling rate, caused a precipitation of σ phase at the interface between ferrite/austenite in both weld metal and base metal. This resulted in the severe corrosion damages and significant decrease in critical pitting temperature (CPT), which was even lower than that measured in as-welded condition. Moreover, the fraction of σ phase in the center region of post weld heat treated steel tube was obtained to be higher than in the surface region. These results suggest that the PWHT conditions for the steel tube should be optimized to ensure the high corrosion resistance by excluding the precipitation of σ phase even in center region.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2021

Martensitic stainless steel is commonly used in the medical implant instrument. The alloy has drawbacks in terms of strength and wear properties when applied to instruments with sharp parts. 440C STS alloy, with improved durability, is an alternative to replace 420 J2 STS. In the present study, the carbide precipitation, and mechanical and corrosion properties of STS 440C alloy are studied as a function of different heat treatments. The STS 440C alloy is first austenitized at different temperatures; this is immediately followed by oil quenching and sub-zero treatment. After sub-zero treatment, the alloy is tempered at low temperatures. The microstructures of the heat treated STS 440C alloy consist of martensite and retained austenite and carbides. Using EDX and SADP with a TEM, the precipitated carbides are identified as a Cr23C6 carbide with a size of 1 to 2 ㎛. The hardness of STS 440C alloy is improved by austenitization at 1,100 ℃ with sub-zero treatment and tempering at 200 ℃. The values of Ecorr and Icorr for STS 440C increase with austenitization temperature. Results can be explained by the dissolution of Cr-carbide and the increase in the retained austenite. Sub-zero treatment followed by tempering shows a little difference in the properties of potentiodynamic polarizations.

• New Physics: Sae Mulli
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• v.69 no.10
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• pp.1107-1114
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• 2019

Producing extremely stable high temperature and pressure condition is crucial in order to synthesize novel materials with various functions and to investigate their static and dynamic properties. Already a high pressure in the Mbar range, which is necessary to make novel materials, can be acquired by using a Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC), In this study, a laser-heating system combined with the DAC was designed and installed using two 1064-nm, 100-W fiber lasers on different sides of the DAC to heat the sample and three spectrometers to measure the temperature, pressure, and Raman spectra. A stainless-steel gasket, which is generally used as a sample chamber in high-pressure experiments, was heated to make a thermal radiation source, and the temperature of the heated gasket was obtained by measuring the spectrum of the radiation. By applying this technique, we were able to make various materials and to investigate their physical properties under extreme conditions.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.435-446
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• 2023

Corrosion behaviors of laser-welded super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) tubes after exposure to an actual power plant environment for one year and those of fin-tube welded SDSS were evaluated. Results showed that corrosion damage on the back side of the SDSS tube in the direction of hot air was higher than that on the front side regardless of weldment location. However, corrosion damage showed no difference between weldment and base metal due to recovery of phase fraction in the weldment through post weld heat treatment (PWHT). Nevertheless, the SDSS tube showed severe corrosion damage along grain boundary due to surface phase transformation (δ → γ) and Cr₂N precipitation caused by PWHT with a high N₂ atmosphere. Corrosion resistance of the SDSS tube was recovered when degraded surface was removed. Corrosion sensitivity of a fin-tube increased significantly due to pre-existing crevice, unbalanced phase fraction, and σ phase precipitation adjacent to the fusion line. Although corrosion resistance was improved by recovered phase fraction and sufficient dissolution of σ phase during PWHT, corrosion reaction was concentrated at the pre-existing crevice. These results suggest that welding conditions for fin-tube steel should be optimized to improve corrosion resistance by removing pre-existing crevice in the weldment.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.97-102
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• 2024

The next-generation Molten Salt Reactor is known for its high safety because it uses nuclear fuel dissolved in high-temperature molten salt, unlike traditional solid atomic fuel methods. However, the high-temperature molten salt causes severe corrosion in internal structural materials, threatening the reactor's safety. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the high-temperature corrosion resistance and wear performance of materials used in reactors to ensure safety. In this study, the high-temperature corrosion resistances and wear performances of corrosion samples in a NaCl-MgCl2-KCl (20-40-40 [wt%]) molten salt are investigated to evaluate the applicability of economically viable stainless steels, 316SS and 304SS. Hastelloy C276 and a new alloy containing a small amount of Nb are used as reference samples for comparative analysis. The mass loss, mass loss rate per unit volume, and surface roughness of each sample are measured to understand the corrosion mechanisms. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy analyses are employed to analyze the corrosion mechanisms. Wear tests on the corroded samples are also conducted to assess the extent of corrosion. Based on the experimental results, we predict the lifespans of the materials and evaluate their suitability as candidate materials for molten salt reactors. The data obtained from the experiments provide a valuable database for structural materials that can enhance the stability of molten salt reactors and recommend high-temperature corrosion-resistant materials suitable for next-generation reactors.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.220-225
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• 2024

Molten salt reactors represent a promising advancement in nuclear technology due to their potential for enhanced safety, higher efficiency, and reduced nuclear waste. However, the development of structural materials that can survive under severe corrosion environments is crucial. In the present work, pure Ni was deposited on the surface of 316H stainless steel using a directed energy deposition (DED) process. This study aimed to fabricate pure Ni alloy layers on an STS316H alloy substrate. It was observed that low laser power during the deposition of pure Ni on the STS316H substrate could induce stacking defects such as surface irregularities and internal voids, which were confirmed through photographic and SEM analyses. Additionally, the diffusion of Fe and Cr elements from the STS316H substrate into the Ni layers was observed to decrease with increasing Ni deposition height. Analysis of the composition of Cr and Fe components within the Ni deposition structures allows for the prediction of properties such as the corrosion resistance of Ni.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2016

Cold stretching(CS) pressure vessels from ASS304 (austenitic stainless steel 304) are used for the transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas(LNG). CS pressure vessels are manufactured by pressurizing the finished vessels to a specific pressure to produce the required stress ${\sigma}_k$. After CS, there is some degree of plastic deformation. Therefore, CS vessels have a higher strength and lighter weight compared to conventional vessels. In this study, we investigate the tensile and fatigue behavior of ASS304 sampled by CS pressure vessels in accordance with the ASME code at cryogenic temperature. From the fatigue test results, we show S-N curves using a statistical method recommended by JSEM-S002. We carried out the fractography of fractured specimens using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).