• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.13 no.2 s.55
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• pp.119-123
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• 2006

The grain growth behavior of $0.95Na_{1/2}Bi_{1/2}TiO_{3}-0.05BaTiO_{3}$ (NBT-5BT) has been investigated with respect to the grain shape. The powder compacts of NBT-5BT were sintered at 1200 for various times. The corresponding equilibrium shape was a round-edged cube with flat {100}-faces. Abnormal grains were not observed in the specimens sintered for 1 to 12 h but abnormal grains appeared when sintered for 24 h. Before the formation of abnormal grains, a valley was observed in the measured grain size distribution of NBT-5BT, showing that the grain size distribution was a combination of two unimodal distributions. The present result suggests that the grain growth in NBT-5BT was governed by the growth of facet planes which would occur via 2-dimansional nucleation and growth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.650-651
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• 2006

This paper presents a study of large grains by transmission electron microscopy in two WC-Co alloys, one W rich and one C rich. In the W rich alloy, some large grains are found in contact with the $\eta$ phase. The C content influences the morphology of large grains: they are flatter in the C rich alloy with smoother interfaces. Whatever the C content, they contain few dislocations compared to matrix grains except often in a small area. Small WC grains are often found inside the large grains. They have likely been engulfed during the growth of the large grains owing to the low boundary energy.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2022

In this study, the effect of the initial particle size distribution (PSD) of (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ powders on the microstructure of sintered ceramics was investigated. (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ powders with uni-, bi-, tri-, and quad-modal PSDs were obtained through a planetary ball-mill. For the specimens sintered at 1080℃, the growth of abnormal grains was promoted from the powders exhibiting quad- and tri-modal PSDs with a high content of large particles, resulting in a microstructure in which huge abnormal grains were predominant. However, as the number of peaks in PSD and the overall particle size decreased, the abnormal grain growth was suppressed and the grain growth of small particles started, resulting in a microstructure with a uniform grain size. For the specimens sintered at 1100℃, huge abnormal grains were not observed due to the decrease in the critical driving force for 2D nucleation even when powders with quad- and tri-modal PSDs were used. It was confirmed that when powder with unimodal PSD was used, a uniform microstructure that was not significantly affected by the sintering temperature could be obtained. The results of this study demonstrate that the microstructure of (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃-based ceramics can be controlled by controlling the particle size of the initial powder.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2004

The effect of SiC particle size on the microstructures and mechanical properties of A1$_2$O$_3$-SiC composite was investigated. Two types of SiC powders having average particle sizes of 0.15 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and 3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ were used. The grain growth in the specimen containing 0.15 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ SiC was effectively inhibited due to the fine SiC particles. However, after the formation of some abnormal grains, fast and exaggerated grain growth occurred which led to the microstructure of large grains with irregular shape. Fracture strength decreased due to the abnormal large grains. On the other hand, for specimen containing 3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ SiC showed normal grain growth behavior from initial sintering stage. Large SiC particles, however, effectively inhibited exaggerated grain growth after nucleation of a few abnormal grains. As a consequence, microstructure consisted of homogeneous elongated grains. In the A1$_2$O$_3$-2.5SiC(0.15 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$)-2.5SIC(3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) composite fabricated by mixing the two types of SiC powder, abnormal grain growth occurred. However, the good fracture strength was maintained regardless of microstructural changes in this specimen.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.135-141
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• 2023

The volatilization of alkali ions in (K,Na)NbO₃ (KNN) ceramics was inhibited by doping them with alkaline earth metal ions. In addition, the grain growth behavior changed significantly as the sintering duration (t_s) increased. At 1,100 ℃, the volatilization of alkali ions in KNN ceramics was more suppressed when doped with alkaline earth metal ions with smaller ionic size. A Ca²⁺-doped KNN specimen with the least alkali ion volatilization exhibited a microstructure in which grain growth was completely suppressed, even under long-term sintering for t_s = 30 h. The grain growth in Sr²⁺-doped and Ba²⁺-doped KNN specimens was suppressed until t_s = 10 h. However, at t_s = 30 h, a heterogeneous microstructure with abnormal grains and small-sized matrix grains was observed. The size and number of abnormal grains and size distribution of matrix grains were considerably different between the Sr²⁺-doped and Ba²⁺-doped specimens. This microstructural diversity in KNN ceramics could be explained in terms of the crystal growth driving force required for two-dimensional nucleation, which was directly related to the number of vacancies in the material.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.552-560
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• 1988

ZnO low voltage varistor was obtained by varying a) the amount of seed grains, b) the size of seed grains, and c) sintering temperature. Also, the optimum condition for fabricating the ZnO seed grains was studied. Large ZnO seed grains were obtained by washing a ZnO sintered body containing 1m/of BaCO3 in boiling water. When the seed grains were added, abnormal grain growth occurred, and the varistor voltage sharply decreased. However, when more than 5w/o of seed grain content was added, the varistor voltage gradually increased. When 10w/o seed grains of 75~106${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ were added and sintered for 2 hours at 1200 to 125$0^{\circ}C$, low voltage varistor properties with V1mA/mm of 19V/mm and nonlinear exponent ($\alpha$) of 12 occurred.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2004

Growth behavior of two different types of grains, faceted and rounded, in a liquid matrix has been studied in the (75WC-25TiCN)-30Co system. Powder samples were sintered above the eutectic temperature for various times under a carbon saturated condition. (Ti,W)(C,N) grains with a rounded shape and WC grains with a faceted shape coexisted in the same Co based liquid. With increasing sintering time, the average size of (Ti.W)(C,N) grains increased continuously and very large WC grains appeared. The growth of rounded (Ti,W)(C,N) grains followed a cubic law, r^3-r^3_0$=kt, where r is the average size of the grains, $r_0$ the initial average size, k the proportionality constant and t the sintering time. indicating a diffusion-controlled growth. On the other hand, the growth of the faceted WC grains resulted in a bimodal grain size distribution, showing an abnormal grain growth. These observations show that the growth behavior of different types of grains is governed by their shape, faceted or rounded, even in the same liquid matrix.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 1993.11a
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• pp.12-13
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• 1993

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

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.829-834
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• 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 $400^{\circ}C$.