• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.357-362
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• 2008

The 2-step low temperature plasma processes (the combined carburizing and post-nitriding) were carried out for improving both the surface hardness and corrosion resistance of AISI 316L stainless steel. The effects of processing time and temperature on the surface properties during nitriding step were investigated. The expanded austenite (${\gamma}_N$) was formed on all of the treated surface. The thickness of ${\gamma}_N$ was increased up to about $20{\mu}m$ and the thickness of entire hardened layer was determined to be about $40{\mu}m$. The surface hardness reached up to $1,200HV_{0.1}$ which is about 5 times higher than that of untreated sample ($250HV_{0.1}$). The thickness of ${\gamma}_N$ and concentration of N on the surface were increased with increasing processing time and temperature. The corrosion resistance in 2-step low temperature plasma processed austenitic stainless steels was enhanced more than that in the untreated austenitic stainless steels due to a high concentration of N on the surface.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.121-126
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• 2009

Stainless steel 316L (STS 316L) is widely used as a material of biopsy needle. However it has a side effect that tissue can be damaged by electrochemical operation between tissue and STS 316L. Many studies have been made on the ceramic coating of biopsy needle to reduce the side effect. In this study, STS 316L was coated with three bioceramics, $Al_2O_3$, $SiO_2$ and $ZrO_2$ using a RF magnetron sputtering method. The effects of ceramic coating on the electrical conductivity and coating strength of ceramic-coated STS 316L were investigated. The results showed that the electrical conductivity of ceramic-coated STS 316L was much lower than that of uncoated STS 316L. The coating strength of $ZrO_2$-coated STS 316L was 30% and 70% higher, respectively than those of $Al_2O_3$-coated STS 316L and $SiO_2_3$-coated STS 316L.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.521-527
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• 2002

In this paper, tensile behavior and low cycle fatigue behavior of 316L stainless steel which is currently favored structural material for several high temperature components such as the liquid metal cooled fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) were investigated. Research was performed at 55$0^{\circ}C$, $600^{\circ}C$ and $650^{\circ}C$ since working temperature of 316L stainless steel in a real field is from 40$0^{\circ}C$ to $650^{\circ}C$. From tensile tests performed by strain controls with $1{\times}10^{-3}/s,\; l{\times}10^{ -4}/s \;and\; 1{\times}10/^{ -5}/ s $ strain rates at each temperature, negative strain rate response (that is, strain hardening decreases as strain rate increases) and negative temperature response were observed. Strain rate effect was relatively small compared with temperature effect. LCF tests with a constant total strain amplitude were performed by strain control with a high temperature extensometer at R.T, 55$0^{\circ}C$, $600^{\circ}C$, $650^{\circ}C$ and total strain amplitudes of 0.3%~0.8% were used and test strain rates were $1{times}10^{-2} /s,\; 1{times}10^{-3} /s\; and\; 1{times}10^{-4} /s$. A new energy based LCF life prediction model which can explain the effects of temperature, strain amplitude and strain rate on fatigue life was proposed and its excellency was verified by comparing with currently used models.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1994 no.12
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• pp.175-177
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• 1994

The wear corrosion behaviour of a nitrogen ion implanted super stainless steel (S.S.S, 22Cr - 20Ni - 6Mo - 0.25N) was compared with those of S.S.S, 316L SS and TiN coated 316L SS. The Cr and Ni amounts won out from the materials were investigated using an electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. We observed that the Cr dissolution rate of the S.S.S was similar to that of 316L SS, however, the Ni release of the S.S.S was feater than 316L SS. The metal ions released from the nitrogen ion implanted S.S.S surface were significantly reduced. The wear corrosion behaviour of the stainless steels was not correlated with the results shown by a static metal ion release test.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.244-254
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• 2022

For tensile tests, Vickers hardness tests and microstructure tests, plate-type and box-type specimens of austenitic 316L stainless steels were produced by a conventional machining (CM) process as well as two additive manufacturing processes such as direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and direct metal tooling (DMT). The specimens were irradiated up to a fast neutron fluence of 3.3 × 10⁹ n/cm² at a neutron irradiation facility. Mechanical performance of the unirradiated and irradiated specimens were investigated at room temperature and 300 ℃, respectively. The tensile strengths of the DMLS, DMT and CM 316L specimens are in descending order but the elongations are in reverse order, regardless of irradiation and temperature. The ratio of Vickers hardness to ultimate tensile strength was derived to be between 3.21 and 4.01. The additive manufacturing processes exhibit suitable mechanical performance, comparing the tensile strengths and elongations of the conventional machining process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.177-178
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• 2012

In this experiment, post-nitriding treatment has been performed at $400^{\circ}C$ on AISI 316 stainless steel which is plasma carburized previously at $430^{\circ}C$ for 15 hours. Plasma nitriding was implemented on AISI 316 stainless steel at various gas compositions (25% N2, 50% N2 and 75% N2) for 4 hours. Additionally, during post nitriding Ar gas was used with H2 and N2 to observe the improvement of treatment. After treatment, the behavior of the hybrid layer was investigated by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and micro-hardness testing. Potentiodynamic polarization test was also used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the samples. Meanwhile, it was found that the surface hardness increased with increasing the nitrogen gas content. Also small percentage of Ar gas was introduced in the post nitriding process which improved the hardness of the hardened layer but reduces the corrosion resistance compared with the carburized sample. The experiment revealed that AISI 316L stainless steel showed better hardness and excellent corrosion resistance compared with the carburized sample, when 75% N2 gas was used during the post nitriding treatment. Also addition of Ar gas during post nitriding treatment were degraded the corrosion resistance of the sample compared with the carburized sample.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.92-99
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• 2020

High-temperature mechanical behaviors of Type 316L stainless steel (SS), which is considered as one of the major structural materials of Generation-IV nuclear reactors, were investigated through the tension and creep tests at elevated temperatures. The tension tests were performed under the strain rate of 6.67×10^-4 (1/s) from room temperature to 650℃, and the creep tests were conducted under different applied stresses at 550℃, 600℃, 650℃, and 700℃. The tensile behavior was investigated, and the modeling equations for tensile strengths and elongation were proposed as a function of temperature. The creep behavior was analyzed in terms of various creep equations: Norton's power law, modified Monkman-Grant relation, damage tolerance factor(λ), and Z-parameter, and the creep constants were proposed. In addition, the tested tensile and creep strengths were compared with those of RCC-MRx. Results showed that creep exponent value decreased from n=13.55 to n=7.58 with increasing temperature, λ = 6.3, and Z-parameter obeyed well a power-law form of Z=5.79E52(σ/E)^9.12. RCC-MRx showed lower creep strength and marginally different in creep strain rate, compared to the tested results. Same creep deformation was operative for dislocation movement regardless of the temperatures.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.333-342
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• 2004

Tensile and low cycle fatigue (LCF) tests on prior cold worked 316L stainless steel were carried out at various temperatures from room temperature to 650$^{\circ}C$. At all test temperatures, cold worked material showed the tendency of higher strength and lower ductility compared with those of solution treated material. The embrittlement of material occurred in the temperature region from 300$^{\circ}C$ to 600$^{\circ}C$ due to dynamic strain aging. Following initial cyclic hardening for a few cycles, cycling softening was observed to dominate until failure occurred during LCF deformation, and the cyclic softening behavior strongly depended on temperature and strain amplitude. Non-Masing behavior was observed at all test temperatures and hysteresis energy curve method was employed to describe the stress-strain hysteresis loops at half$.$life. The prediction shows a good agreement with the experimental results.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.817-822
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• 2008

Metal matrix composite (MMC) materials having low electrical contact resistance based on 316L stainless steel (STS) matrix alloy with $ZrB_2$ particles were fabricated for PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) separator by powder metallurgy (PM). The effects of the boride particle addition into the matrix alloy on microstructure, surface morphology, and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the samples and gas diffusion layer (GDL) were investigated. Both conventional and PM 316L STS samples showed high ICR due to the existence of non-conductive passive film on the alloy surface. The addition of the boride particles, however, remarkably reduced ICR of the samples. SEM observation revealed that the boride particles were protruded out of the matrix surface and particle density existing on the surface increased with increasing the boride content, causing increase of the total contact area between the conductive particles and GDL. ICR of the samples also decreased with increasing the boride content resulted from the increased contact area.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2023

Additive manufacturing technology, called as 3D printing, is one of fourth industrial revolution technologies that can drive innovation in the manufacturing process, and thus should be applied to nuclear industry for various purposes according to the manufacturing trend change in the future. In this paper, we performed tensile tests of 3D printed stainless steel 316L as-built specimens manufactured by two types of technology; DED (Directed Energy Deposition) and PBF (Powder Bed Fusion). Their mechanical properties (tensile strength, yield strength, elongation and reduction of area) were compared. As a result of comparison, the mechanical properties of the PBF specimens were slightly better than those of DED specimens. In the same additive type of specimens, the tensile and yield strength of specimens in the X and Y direction were higher than those in the Z direction, but the elongation and ROA were lower.