• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 1995

Variation of sintered density of BaTiO3 powder calcined at 120$0^{\circ}C$ and 135$0^{\circ}C$ was investigated with respect to the grain growth behavior. It was found that BaTiO3 powder, which was calcined at 120$0^{\circ}C$, showed abnormal grain growth behavior during sintering process. At initial stage of sintering process, the densification rate of specimen was accelerated with rapid grain growth caused by the abnormal grain growth. But with the increase of sintering time, abnormally grown grain met each other and the density of specimen decreased drastically due to coalescence of pores located in triple junction. On the contrary, BaTiO3 powder calcined at 135$0^{\circ}C$ showed normal grain growth behavior and gradually densified with the increase of sintering time.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.12 no.4 s.51
• /
• pp.261-265
• /
• 2005

In order to fabricate complex-shaped polycrystalline ceramics by sintering, organic binders are usually pre-mixed with ceramic powders to enhance the formability during the shape forming process. These organic binders, however, must be eliminated before sintering so as to eliminate the possibilities of poor densification and unusual grain growth during sintering. The present work studies the effect of binder addition on grain growth behavior during sintering of $92(70Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-30PbTiO_3))$-8PbO(mol%) piezoelectric ceramics. The microstructures of the sintered samples were examined for various heating profiles and debinding schedules of the binder removal process. Addition of Polyvinyl butyral(PVB) binder promoted abnormal grain growth especially in incompletely debinded regions. Residual carbon appears to change the grain shape from comer-rounded to faceted and enhance abnormal grain growth.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.37 no.7
• /
• pp.673-680
• /
• 2000

The effect of excess PbO(0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 mol%) on grain growth and densification of (65)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-(35)PbTiO3 [mol%] ceramics has been investigaetd. With increasing the amount of excess PbO and sintering time, densities of sintered samples decreased gradually. The samples containing less than 1 mol% of PbO showed normal grain growth behavior, however abnormal grain growth was observed to occur in the samples with more than 2 mol% of PbO. In the samples with more than 2 mol% of PbO, the number of abnormal grains decreased and thus the average grain size became smaller with increasing the amount of excess PbO. These results demonstrated that the abnormal grain growth started to occur when a critical amount of excess PbO was added to a (65)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-(35)PbTiO3 sample. Since PMN-PT grains in a liquid matrix were angular, the observed abnormal grain growth was explained to proceed through the two dimensional nucleation process.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.131-135
• /
• 2001

The ferroelectric properties of barium titanate strongly depend on its microstructure, in particular, grain size and distribution. During sintering, $BaTiO_3$ usually exhibits abnormal grain growth, which deteriorates considerably the ferroelectric properties. A typical technique to suppress the abnormal grain growth is the addition of dopants. Dopant addition, however, affects the ferroelectric properties and thus limits the application of $BaTiO_3$. Here, we report a simple but novel technique to prevent the abnormal grain growth of $BaTiO_3$ and to overcome the limitation of dopant use. The technique consists of stepwise sintering in a reducing atmosphere and in an oxidizing atmosphere. The materials prepared by the present technique exhibit uniform grain size and high dielectric properties. The technique should provide opportunities of having $BaTiO_3$-based materials with superior ferroelectric properties.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.829-834
• /
• 2004

Annealing of $Cu(B)/Ti/SiO_2$ in vacuum has been carried out to investigate the effects of Ti underlayer on microstructure in $Cu(B)/Ti/SiO_2$ structures. For comparison, $Cu(B)/Ti/SiO_2$ structures was also annealed in vacuum. Three different temperature dependence of Cu growth can be seen in $Cu(B)/Ti/SiO_2$; B precipitates- pinned grain growth, abnormal grain growth, normal grain growth. The Ti underlayer having a strong affinity for B atoms reacts with the out-diffused B to the Ti surface and forms titanium boride at the Cu-Ti interface. The formation of titanium boride acts as a sink for the out-diffusion of B atoms. The depletion of boron in grain boundaries of Cu films, as results of the rapid diffusion of B along the grain boundaries and the insufficient segregation of B to the grain boundaries, induces grain boundaries to migrate and causes the abnormal grain growth. The increased bulk diffusion coefficient of B within Cu grains can be responsible for the normal grain growth occurring in the annealed $Cu(B)/Ti/SiO_2\;at\;600^{\circ}C$. In contrast, the $Cu/SiO_2$ structures show only the abnormal growth of grains and their sizes increasing as the temperature increases above $400^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.110-117
• /
• 2022

The grain growth behavior in the (1-x)K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃-xCaZrO₃ (KNNCZ-x) system is studied as a function of the amount of CZ and grain shape. The (1-x)K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃-xCaZrO₃ (KNNCZ-x) powders are synthesized using a conventional solid-state reaction method. A single orthorhombic phase is observed at x = 0 - 0.03. However, rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases are observed at x = 0.05. The grain growth behavior changes from abnormal grain growth to the suppression of grain growth as the amount of CaZrO₃ (CZ) increases. With increasing CZ content, grains become more faceted, and the step-free energy increases. Therefore, the critical growth driving force increases. The grain size distribution broadens with increasing sintering time in KNNCZ-0.05. As a result, some large grains with a driving force larger than the critical driving force for growth exhibit abnormal grain growth behavior during sintering. Therefore, CZ changes the grain growth behavior and microstructure of KNN. Grain growth at the faceted interface of the KNNCZ system occurs via two-dimensional nucleation and growth.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.155-162
• /
• 2024

SCr420H steel which is commonly utilized for automotive components requires the carburizing heat treatment process. Abnormal grain growth during this treatment significantly affects the mechanical properties of the steel parts. Consequently, a process designed to prevent abnormal grain growth at certain elevated temperatures is essential. For enhanced grain refinement, we considered the addition of Nb in SCr420H steel. The experimental condition of the carburizing heat treatment involved reheating the steel sample to temperatures between 940℃ and 1080℃. Using scanning electron microscopy, we examined the microstructure of specimens treated with the secondary solution, revealing an organization of bainite and ferrite. Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to determine the type, shape, and size of the carbonitrides, showing a high fraction of AlN at the secondary solution treatment temperature of approximately 1050℃ and of (Nb,Ti)(C,N) around 1200℃. AlN particles measured about 100 nm and (Nb,Ti)(C,N) about 50 nm. Optical microscopy was utilized to assess grain size variations at different secondary solution treatment temperatures. It is noted that the temperature at which abnormal grain coarsening occurred rose with increasing secondary solution treatment temperatures, indicating a greater influence of (Nb,Ti)(C,N) with higher heat treatment temperatures. This research provides reference data for preventing abnormal grain growth in Nb-added low alloy steels undergoing carburizing heat treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.36 no.12
• /
• pp.1310-1315
• /
• 1999

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 1984

During the last decade there have been many studies on the new ceramics especially engineering ceramics. Sintered silicon carbide is one of the main materials in engineering ceramics. This study shows the effects of surface treatment and microstructure especially the abnormal grain growth on the strength of sintered SiC. Surface of sintered SiC and treated with 400, 800 and 1200 grit diamond wheel. Grain growth is introduced by increasing the sintering times at 205$0^{\circ}C$. The $\beta$longrightarrow$\alpha$ transformation occurs during the sintering of $\beta$-starting materials and is often accompanied by abnormal grain growth. The overall strength distribution are estimated using the Weibull statistics. The results show that the strength of sintered SiC is limited by extrinsic surface flaws in normal-sintered specimens. And it is sound that the finer the surface finishing and the grain size the higher the strength results. But the strength of abnormal sintering specimens is limited by the abnormally-grown large tabular grains. The Weibull modulus increases with the decreasing grain size and the decreasing grit size of grinding.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.641-647
• /
• 2011

The present study aims to identify the effect of sintering atmosphere [$O_2$, 75$N_2$-25 $H_2$ (mol%) and $H_2$] on microstructural evolution at the relatively low sintering temperature of 1040$^{\circ}C$. Samples sintered in $O_2$ showed a bimodal microstructure consisting of fine matrix grains and large abnormal grains. Sintering in 75 $N_2$ - 25 $H_2$ (mol %) and $H_2$ caused the extent of abnormal grain growth to increase. These changes in grain growth behaviour are explained by the effect of the change in step free energy with sintering atmosphere on the critical driving force necessary for rapid grain growth. The results show the possibility of fabricating $(K_{0.5}Na_{0.5})NbO_3$ at low temperature with various microstructures via proper control of sintering atmosphere.