• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.258-263
• /
• 2021

ZnO varistor is a semiconductor device which can serve to protect the circuit from surge voltage because its non-linear I-V characteristics by controlling the microstructure of grain and grain boundaries. In order to obtain desired electrical properties, it is important to control microstructure evolution during the sintering process. In this research, we defined a dataset composed of process conditions of sintering and relative permittivity of sintered body, and collected experimental dataset with DOE. Meta-models can predict permittivity were developed by learning the collected experimental dataset on various machine learning algorithms. By utilizing the meta-model, we can derive optimized sintering conditions that could show the maximum permittivity from the numerical-based HMA (Hybrid Metaheuristic Algorithm) optimization algorithm. It is possible to search the optimal process conditions with minimum number of experiments if meta-model-based optimization is applied to ceramic processing.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.145-149
• /
• 2023

High-resolution images of surfaces provide detailed information on pores or shapes with specific sizes ranging from nano sizes to micrometers. However, it is not yet clear to determine an efficient association for pores or shapes from high-resolution images of surfaces. For the efficient association of pores and shapes, the surface characteristics of the device were considered as fractal dimensions by taking SEM photographs and binarizing the images. The fractal program was directly coded for surface analysis of the device. The device surface characteristics and electrical characteristics are thought to be related to the fractal dimension. The fractal dimension decreased with an increase in internal pores. The density and grain boundary of particles, which are structural characteristics of the device surface, were related to the fractal dimension. The particle size decreased with an increase in the fractal dimension and was uniformly formed. When the particles were uniformly formed, fewer pores were present and the fractal dimension increased.

• CORROSION AND PROTECTION
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.30-38
• /
• 2013

Austenitic stainless steels and Ni-base alloys are widely used as structural materials for major components and piping system in pressurized water reactors (PWRs). These austenitic alloys are known to be susceptible to environmental assisted cracking (EAC), such as environmentally-assisted fatigue (EAF) and primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) during long-term exposure to PWR primary water environment. In this paper, the current understanding on the phenomena and mechanisms of these EAC are briefly introduced using experimental results and literature review. The mechanisms for EAF and PWSCC for austenitic stainless steels and Ni-base alloys are discussed. Currently, austenitic stainless steels are known to be more susceptible to EAF, while less susceptible to PWSCC than Ni-base alloys. The possible explanations to such behaviors are proposed and discussed in view of the role of hydrogen and internal oxidation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 2024

The core shroud of rector vessel internals (RVI) of OPR1000 and ARP1400 is made of Type 304 stainless steel (SS) by bending and welding process that may induce high deformation and residual stress in manufacturing. This work aims to evaluate the susceptibility of stress corrosion crack (SCC) initiation of bent parts of RVI in high temperature primary water environment. For SCC initiation test, tensile specimens were fabricated from the 90 degree bent plate of Type 304 SS (DT specimen), that is an archived part of a Korean APR1400. After the SCC initiation test, the specimen surface was thoroughly examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy, and compared to the specimen fabricated from the as-received plate of Type 304 SS (AR specimen). The surface observation revealed that SCC initiated on the AR specimen surface in typical intergranular (IG) mode, while SCC on the DT specimen occurred in transgrannular mode as well as IG mode. It was also found that the size and number of SCC on the DT specimen were larger than that on the AR specimen. This was attributable to a strain-hardening during the bending process. To compare the susceptibility of SCC initiation, total crack density (TCD) was calculated from the total crack length divided by the measured area of AR and DT specimens. TCD of DT specimen was 4.6 times higher than AR specimen in average, indicating that higher possibility of degradation of bent parts of RVI for a long-term operation.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.26-32
• /
• 2002

The effects of $Nd_2O_3$ addition to $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ ceramics with ${\varepsilon}_r$ of 126, $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ of 2240 and of $68\;ppm/^{\circ}C$ on their microwave properties were investigated. For the addition of 5 wt% $Nd_2O_3$, the dielectric constant (${\varepsilon}_r$) showed maximum value of 131, then decreased with the further addition of $Nd_2O_3$. $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ value was still increased to 3533 with 9 wt% $Nd_2O_3$ addition, it is influenced by densification of grain boundary. With more addition of $Nd_2O_3$ up to 18 wt%, the abnormal grain growth have influence on the decreasing of $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ value. But with the further addition of $Nd_2O_3$ over 25 wt%, the $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ value was again increased by the effect of the second phase ($Nd_2Ti_2O_7$) forming. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (${\tau}_f$) was decreased from $+\;68\;ppm/^{\circ}C$ with the addition of $Nd_2O_3$, reached $0\;ppm/^{\circ}C$ at 12 wt% addition, and became negative with the further addition of $Nd_2O_3$. The optimum microwave dielectric properties were obtained for $0.3CaTiO_3-0.7(Li_{1/2}Nd_{1/2})TiO_3$ with 9 wt% $Nd_2O_3$ sintered at $1425^{\circ}C$ for 3 hrs. The dielectric constant (${\varepsilon}_r$), the $Q{\cdot}f_{0}(GHz)$ value, and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (${\tau}_f$) were 108, 3533, and $+\;6\;ppm/^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.22 no.12
• /
• pp.689-695
• /
• 2012

We have examined the co-doping effects of 1/2 mol% NiO and 1/4 mol% $Cr_2O_3$ (Ni:Cr = 1:1) on the reaction, microstructure, and electrical properties, such as the bulk defects and the grain boundary properties, of ZnO-$Bi_2O_3-Sb_2O_3$ (ZBS; Sb/Bi = 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0) varistors. The sintering and electrical properties of Ni,Cr-doped ZBS, ZBS(NiCr) varistors were controlled using the Sb/Bi ratio. Pyrochlore ($Zn_2Bi_3Sb_3O_{14}$), ${\alpha}$-spinel ($Zn_7Sb_2O_{12}$), and ${\delta}-Bi_2O_3$ were detected for all of compositions. For the sample with Sb/Bi = 1.0, the Pyrochlore was decomposed and promoted densification at lower temperature by Ni rather than by Cr. A homogeneous microstructure was obtained for all of the samples affected by ${\alpha}$-spinel. The varistor characteristics were not dramatically improved (non-linear coefficient, ${\alpha}$ = 5~24), and seemed to form ${Zn_i}^{{\cdot}{\cdot}}$(0.17 eV) and ${V_o}^{\cdot}$(0.33 eV) as dominant defects. From impedance and modulus spectroscopy, the grain boundaries were found to have been divided into two types, i.e., one is tentatively assigned to ZnO/$Bi_2O_3$ (Ni,Cr)/ZnO (0.98 eV) and the other is assigned to a ZnO/ZnO (~1.5 eV) homojunction.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.231-239
• /
• 1999

The microstructure of ceramic composite has been found to be governed by the type and amount of the secondary phase, the sintering aid, and the sintering conditions such as sintering temperature, pressure and holing time. Moreover, tribological properties are strongly dependent on microsturcture of composite and operating conditions. In this study, silicon nitride with various amount of magnesia as a sintering aid were prepared and sintered by a hot pressing (HP) technique. Microstructure, mechanical properties (hardness, strength, and fracture toughness), and tribological properties in different environments of $Si_{3}N_{4}$ (in air, water, and paraffine oil) were investigated as a function of MgO content in $Si_{3}N_{4}$. As increasing the amount of MgO in $Si_{3}N_{4}$, the glassy phase in the grain boundaries enlarged the $\beta$-phase elongated grains, and also degraded the Hertzian contact damage resistance. Tribological behaviors in air was seemed to be determined by fracture toughness of $Si_{3}N_{4}$, and those in water and paraffin oil was seemed to be determined by hardness as well as strength. Since glassy grain-boundary phase (MgO) in $Si_{3}N_{4}$ expected to be reacted with water during sliding, such tribochemical reaction reduced wear. In paraffin oil under a higher applied load, the initial sliding dominated wear rate because of Hertzian contact damage.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.307-312
• /
• 2018

Liquid phases in ZnO varistors cause more complex phase development and microstructure, which makes the control of electrical properties and reliability more difficult. Therefore, we have investigated 2 mol% $CaCO_3$ doped $ZnO-Co_3O_4-Cr_2O_3-La_2O_3$ (ZCCLCa) bulk ceramics as one of the compositions without liquid phase sintering additive. The results were as follows: when $CaCO_3$ is added to ZCCLCa ($644{\Omega}cm$) acting as a simple ohmic resistor, CaO does not form a secondary phase with ZnO but is mostly distributed in the grain boundary and has excellent varistor characteristics (high nonlinear coefficient ${\alpha}=78$, low leakage current of $0.06{\mu}A/cm^2$, and high insulation resistance of $1{\times}10^{11}{\Omega}cm$). The main defects $Zn_i^{{\cdot}{\cdot}}$ (AS: 0.16 eV, IS & MS: 0.20 eV) and $V_o^{\bullet}$ (AS: 0.29 eV, IS & MS: 0.37 eV) were found, and the grain boundaries had 1.1 eV with electrically single grain boundary. The resistance of each defect and grain boundary decreases exponentially with increasing the measurement temperature. However, the capacitance (0.2 nF) of the grain boundary was ~1/10 lower than that of the two defects (~3.8 nF, ~2.2 nF) and showed a tendency to decrease as the measurement temperature increased. Therefore, ZCCLCa varistors have high sintering temperature of $1,200^{\circ}C$ due to lack of liquid phase additives, but excellent varistor characteristics are exhibited, which means ZCCLCa is a good candidate for realizing chip type or disc type commercial varistor products with excellent performance.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.172-175
• /
• 2001

Nanophase catalyst layer for direct methanol fuel cell has been fabricated by magnetron sputtering method. Catalyst metal targets and carbon were sputtered simultaneously on the Nafion membrane surface at abnormally higher gas (Ar/He mixture) pressure than that of normal thin film processing. They could be coated as a novel structure of catalyst layer containing porous PtRu or Pt and carbon particles both in nanometer range. Membrane electrode assembly made with this layer led to a reduction of the catalyst loading. At the catalyst loading of 1.5mg $PtRu/cm^2$ for anode and 1mg $Pt/cm^2$ for cathode, it could provide $45 mW/cm^2$ in the operation at 2 M methanol, 1 Bar Air at 80"C. It is more than $30\%$ increase of the power density performance at the same level of catalyst loading by conventional method. This was realized due to the ultra fine particle sizes and a large fraction of the atoms lie on the grain boundaries of nanophase catalyst layer and they played an important role of fast catalyst reaction kinetics and more efficient fuel path. Commercialization of direct methanol fuel cell for portable electronic devices is anticipated by the further development of such design.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
• /
• 2004.06a
• /
• pp.353-354
• /
• 2004

사용후 핵연료의 조성을 분석하거나 또는 반사전자상과 2차 전자상 등으로 시료를 관찰하기 위해서는 핫셀(Hot cell)에 증착기(coater)를 설치하여 시료표면을 전도성 물질인 탄소 등으로 증착시켜야 한다. 그러나 원격조정기를(manipulator)를 이용하여 수행되는 핫셀에서의 증착작업은 사용후 핵연료 시험의 선진분석기술을 갖고 있는 원자력 선진국에서도 핫셀내에 설치되어 있는 증착기의 탄소봉을 교체하는 작업과 진공장치의 성능 유지가 까다로워 시료표면에 균질하게 전도성 물질을 증착시키는 작업에 많은 어려움을 겪고 있다. 본 연구는 통상적으로 이용되는 증착기를 사용하지 않고 Silver Paint를 사용하여 사용후 핵연료를 분석할 수 있는 새로운 방법에 대한 연구를 수행하였다. 산화물 핵연료는 전기전도도가 매우 낮아($3{\times}10^{-1}~4{\times}10^{-8}/ohm{\cdot}cm$)입사된 전자의 이동이 원활하지 못해 일어나는 들뜸(Charging)현상이 발생한다. 그러나 Silver Paint 에 사용후 핵연료를 접착하면 모세관(capillary)현상에 의해 시료 주위와 핵연료의 결정립계로 Silver가 스며들어 입사된 전자의 이동이 원활해져 전도성이 극히 낮은 시료의 분석이 가능하게 된다. 본 시험에 사용된 EPMA는 (Electron Probe Micro Analyzer, SX-50R, CAMECA, Paris, France) 고 방사능을 띤 조사 핵연료의 시험을 수행할 수 있도록 기기의 적절한 부위에 납과 텅스텐으로 차폐되어 시편의 방사능 세기가 $3{\times}10^{10}Bq$까지 시험 가능한 기기이다. 그림 1은 JAERI 에 설치 운영중인 증착기 설비 사진이다. 그림에서 핫셀에 설치된 증착기의 진공을 유지하기 위해 핫셀 벽을 관통하여 증착기 본체까지 연결된 배출관의 형상과 복잡한 주변장치들을 볼 수 있다. 그림 2는 비조사 핵연료 시편을 Silver Pain떼 접착한 사진이다. 그림은 시료주위와 시료 표면까지 Silver Paint가 도포된 모습을 보여주고 있다. 상용발전소에서 연소도가 50,000 Mwd/tU인 사용후 핵연료를 상기와 같은 방법으로 만든 시편의 표면을 관찰한 사진을 그림 3~8에 나타내었다. 그림 3은 핵연료 중앙부위의 결정립을 나타낸 그림이다. Silver Paint만으로 접착한 시료의 표면관찰 및 정량분석이 그림에서 보듯이 가능함을 확인하였다. 그림 4는 사용후 핵연료시료를 중앙부위에서 가장자리까지를 다섯 부위로 나누어 그 중 중앙부위(1/5) 지점의 입계 및 형상을 관찰한 사진이다. 결정립의 크기가 다른 부위보다 상대적으로 크고, 결정립에 생성된 기공이 발달되어 있음을 볼 수 있다. 그림 5와 6과 7은 중심부위와 rim부위 사이 지점을 관찰한 사진으로서 결정립과 기공의 분포가 비슷한 형상을 나타내고 있음을 관찰할 수 있었다. 그림 8은 rim 부위 사진으로 전형적인 rim 영역 현상을 관찰할 수 있었다. 표 1은 그림 2와 같이 비조사 산화물 핵연료를 Silver Paint로 접착한 시편을 정량 분석한 결과이다. 시편의 조성은 33.6 at% U, 66.4 at% O의 결과를 얻었다. 산화물 핵연료의 표면 관찰 및 정량 분석 시험시 시편 표면을 전도성 물질로 증착시키지 않고, Silver Paint 에 시편을 접착하는 방법으로도 만족한 시험 결과를 얻을 수 있었다.