• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.241-251
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• 2021

7000-series aluminum alloys are noted for their superior strength compared with other Al alloys, and their billets are generally fabricated by direct-chill (DC) casting. Surface defects in a DC-cast aluminum billet are mainly related to exudation and the meniscus freezing phenomenon, which are influenced by alloy compositions, casting speed, and casting temperature. 7000-series aluminum alloys have a wide freezing range during solidification, which makes it easy for casting defects to occur. In this study, we investigated surface defect evolution in casting billets of Al-8Zn-2Mg-2Cu alloy fabricated by a DC casting process. The billets showed "wavy" or "dotted" surfaces. The wavy surface was formed by meniscus freezing at a lower casting speed (200 mm/min) and temperature (655 ℃). In the wavy surface, refined dendritic cells were observed in a concave region due to the constitutional supercooling caused by meniscus freezing. Meanwhile, at a higher casting temperature (675 ℃), the dotted surface was formed by pore formation. In the dotted surfaces in the billet formed at a high casting speed (230 mm/min), an exudation layer was formed by the high metallostatic head pressure. The dotted region and the smooth region had a refined dendritic morphology and a columnar morphology at the exudation layer, respectively. This is attributed to the formation of gas pores in the dotted region.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.410-416
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• 2021

Ti-6Al-4V alloy has a wide range of applications, ranging from turbine blades that require smooth surfaces for aerodynamic purposes to biomedical implants, where a certain surface roughness promotes biomedical compatibility. Therefore, it would be advantageous if the high volumetric density is maintained while controlling the surface roughness during the LPBF of Ti-6Al-4V. In this study, the volumetric energy density is varied by independently changing the laser power and scan speed to document the changes in the relative sample density and surface roughness. The results where the energy density is similar but the process parameters are different are compared. For comparable energy density but higher laser power and scan speed, the relative density remained similar at approximately 99%. However, the surface roughness varies, and the maximum increase rate is approximately 172%. To investigate the cause of the increased surface roughness, a nonlinear finite element heat transfer analysis is performed to compare the maximum temperature, cooling rate, and lifetime of the melt pool with different process parameters.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.125-129
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• 2021

We investigated the electronic property and atomic structure for chalcopyrite (CH) Al_xGa_1-xAs semiconductor by using first-principles FPLMTO method. The CH-Al_xGa_1-xAs exhibits a p-type semiconductor with a direct band-gap. For low Al concentration unoccupied hole-carriers are induced, but for high Al concentration it is formed a localized bonding or anti-bonding state below Fermi level. The hybridization of Al(3s)-Ga(4s, or 4p) is larger than that of Al(3s)-As(4s, or 4p). And the Al film on As-terminated surface, Al/AsGa(001), is more energetically favorable one than that on Ga-terminated (001) surface. Consequently, the band-gap of CH-Al_xGa_1-xAs system increases exponentially with increasing Al concentration. The change of lattice parameter is shown two different configurations with increasing Al concentration. The calculated lattice parameters for CH-Al_xGa_1-xAs system are compared to the experimental ones of zinc-blend GaAs and AlAs.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.247-254
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• 2021

This study reviews dynamic deformation behavior of ultra-fine-grained Al alloys, ultra-fine-grained conventional low carbon steel and dual phase steel and Zr-based amorphous alloys. Dynamic tests were conducted using a Kolsky bar then the test data was analyzed in relation to resultant microstructures, mechanical properties and propensity of adiabatic shear band. In addition, deformed microstructures and fracture surfaces were used to investigate the behavior of both the dynamic deformation and fracture, and adiabatic shear banding. As a result, increasing microstructural homogeneity, strain hardenability and forming multiple shear bands could be a better way to increase the fracture resistance under dynamic loading as the formation of adiabatic shear bands was reduced or prevented.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.230-237
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• 2021

In this study, the influence of silicon contents on the microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of Ti-Al-Si-N coatings were systematically investigated for application of cutting tools. The composition of the Ti-Al-Si-N coatings were controlled by different combinations of TiAl₂ and Ti₄Si composite target powers using an arc ion plating technique in a reactive gas mixture of high purity Ar and N₂ during depositions. Ti-Al-Si-N films were nanocomposite consisting of nanosized (Ti,Al,Si)N crystallites embedded in an amorphous Si₃N₄/SiO₂ matrix. The instrumental analyses revealed that the synthesized Ti-Al-Si-N film with Si content of 5.63 at.% was a nanocomposites consisting of nano-sized crystallites (5-7 nm in dia.) and a three dimensional thin layer of amorphous Si₃N₄ phase. The hardness of the Ti-Al-Si-N coatings also exhibited the maximum hardness value of about 47 GPa at a silicon content of ~5.63 at.% due to the microstructural change to a nanocomposite as well as the solid-solution hardening. The coating has a low friction coefficient of 0.55 at room temperature against an Inconel alloy ball. These excellent mechanical and tribological properties of the Ti-Al-Si-N coatings could help to improve the performance of machining and cutting tool applications.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the formation of the metal oxide nanostructure by anodization of aluminum 3104H18 alloy. The anodization was performed in pyrophosphoric acid (H4P2O7) electrolyte. By the control of anodization condition such as concentration of electrolyte, anodization temperature and applied voltage, nanoporous or nanofiber structures were obtained. The optimal anodization condition to form nanofiber structures are 75 wt% of H4P2O7 at 30 V and 20℃. When anodization was performed at over 40 V, nanoporous structures were formed due to accelerated dissolution reaction rate of nanofiber structures or increasing thickness of channel wall.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.339-344
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• 2021

Composite materials offer distinct and unique properties that are not naturally inherited in the individual materials that make them. One of the most attractive composites to manufacture is the aluminum alloy matrix composite, because it usually combines easiness of availability, light weight, strength, and other favorable properties. In the current work, Powder Metallurgy Method (PMM) is used to prepare Al2024 matrix composites reinforced with different mixing ratios of yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) particles. The tests performed on the composites include physical, mechanical, and tribological, as well as microstructure analysis via optical microscope. The results show that the experimental density slightly decreases while the porosity increases when the reinforcement ratio increases within the selected range of 0 ~ 20 wt%. Besides this, the yield strength, tensile strength, and Vickers hardness increase up to a 10 wt% Y₂O₃ ratio, after which they decline. Moreover, the wear results show that the composite follows the same paradigm for strength and hardness. It is concluded that this composite is ideal for application when higher strength is required from aluminum composites, as well as lighter weight up to certain values of Y₂O₃ ratio.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.200-208
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• 2021

This paper investigated generation behavior of micro-arcs and growth behavior of PEO films on the AA7050 disc specimen in 0.1 M NaAlO₂ solution under the application of 1200 Hz anodic pulse current. Morphologies, thickness and surface roughness of PEO films were examined at the edge part and central part separately. Micro-arcs were generated first at the edge part and then moved towards the central part with PEO treatment time, indicating lateral growth of PEO films. The lateral growth resulted in uniform PEO thickness of about 5 ㎛ and surface roughness of about 0.5 ㎛. Moving of the arcs from the edge towards the central part appeared only one time and large size arcs were generated at the edge before completing the central part with small size micro-arcs. This suggests that vertical growth starts before completing the lateral growth. Large size arcs generated at the edge resulted in the formation of relatively large size pores within the PEO films on the AA7050 disc specimen.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.384-390
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• 2021

In this paper, durability evaluation and surface damage mechanism were investigated through solid particle erosion (SPE) test after applying hot-dip aluminizing (HDA) technology for the purpose of maintenance of marine economizer tube. Damaged surface shape was analyzed using SEM and 3D microscope. Compositional changes and microstructure of the HDA layer were analyzed through EDS and XRD. Durability was evaluated by analyzing weight loss and surface damage depth after SPE. HDA was confirmed to have a two-layer structure of Al and Al₅Fe₂. HDA+HT was made into a single alloy layer of Al₅Fe₂ by diffusion treatment. In the microstructure of HDA+HT, void and crack defect were induced during the crystal phase transformation process. The SPE damage mechanism depends on material properties. Plastic deformation occurred in the substrate and HDA due to ductility, whereas weight loss due to brittleness occurred significantly in HDA+HT. As a result, the substrate and HDA showed better SPE resistance than HDA+HT.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.150-150
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• 2009