• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2013

The Ti-6Al-4V extra low interstitial (ELI) alloy has been widely used as an orthopedic implant material because of its excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, it still has many problems, including a high elastic modulus and toxicity of the Al and V elements. Therefore, non-toxic biomaterials with a low elastic modulus need to be developed. A high energy mechanical milling (HEMM) process is introduced to improve the effect of sintering. Rapid sintering of spark plasma sintering (SPS) under pressure was used to make an ultra fine grain of Ti-25 wt.%Nb-7 wt.%Zr-10 wt.%Mo-(10 wt.%CPP) composites with bio-attractive elements for increasing strength. These composites were fabricated by SPS at $1000^{\circ}C$ at 60 MPa using HEMM powders. During the sintering process, $CaTiO_3$, TixOy, and CaO were formed because of the reaction between Ti and CPP. The effects of CPP content on the physical and mechanical properties of the sintered Ti-Nb-Zr-Mo-CPP composites were investigated. The biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of the Ti-Nb-Zr-Mo alloys were improved by the addition of CPP.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2010

The unique features of spark plasma sintering process are the possibilities of a very fast heating rate and a short holding time to obtain fully dense materials. $\beta$-SiC powder with 0, 2, 6, 10 wt% of $\alpha$-SiC particles (seeds) and 4 wt% of Al-B-C (sintering aids) were spark plasma sintered at $1700-1850^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. The heating rate, applied pressure and sintering atmosphere were kept at $100^{\circ}C/min$, 40 MPa and a flowing Ar gas (500 CC/min). Microstructural development of SiC as function of seed content and temperature during spark plasma sintering was investigated quantitatively and statistically using image analysis. Quantitative image analyses on the sintered SiC ceramics were conducted on the grain size, aspect ratio and grain size distribution of SiC. The microstructure of SiC sintered up to $1700^{\circ}C$ consisted of equiaxed grains. In contrast, the growth of large elongated SiC grains in small matrix grains was shown in sintered bodies at $1750^{\circ}C$ and the plate-like grains interlocking microstructure had been developed by increasing sintering temperature. The introduction of $\alpha$-SiC seeds into $\beta$-SiC accelerated the grain growth of elongated grains during sintering, resulting in the plate-like grains interlocking microstructure. In the $\alpha$-SiC seeds added in $\beta$-SiC, the rate of grain growth decreased with $\alpha$-SiC seed content, however, bulk density and aspect ratio of grains in sintered body increased.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.678-685
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of applied pressure and sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties for spark plasma sintering (SPS) from commercial pure titanium (CP-Ti) powders. Spark plasma sintering is a relatively new sintering technique in powder metallurgy which is capable of sintering metal and ceramic powers quickly to full density at a fairly low temperature due to its unique features. SPS of -200 mesh or -400 mesh CP-Ti powders was carried out in an $Ar+H_2$ mixed gas flowing atmosphere between $650^{\circ}C$ and $750^{\circ}C$ under 10 to 80 MPa pressure. When SPS was carried out at relatively low temperatures ($650^{\circ}C$ to $750^{\circ}C$), the high (>60 MPa) pressure had a marked effect on densification and grain growth suppression. The full density of titanium was achieved at temperatures and pressures above $700^{\circ}C$ and 60 MPa by spark plasma sintering. The crystalline phase and microstructure of titanium sintered up to $700^{\circ}C$ consisted of ${\alpha}$-Ti and equiaxed grains. Vickers hardness ranging from 293 to 362 Hv and strength ranging from 304 to 410 MPa were achieved for spark plasma sintered titanium.

• Composites Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.28-34
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• 2006

[ $Cu-TiB_2$ ] metal matrix composites with various weight fractions of $TiB_2$ were fabricated by combination of manufacturing process, SPS (self-propagating high-temperature synthesis) and SPS (spark plasma sintering). The feasibility of $Cu-TiB_2$ composites for welding electrodes and sliding contact material was investigated through experiments on the tensile properties, hardness and wear resistance. To obtain desired properties of composites, composites are designed according to reinforcement's shape, size and volume fraction. Thus proper modeling is essential to predict the effective material properties. The elastic moduli of composites obtained by FEM and tensile test were compared with effective properties from the original Eshelby model, Eshelby model with Mori-Tanaka theory and rule-of-mixture. FEM result showed almost the same value as the experimental modulus and it was found that Eshelby model with Mori-Tanaka theory predicted effective modulus the best among the models.