• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.56 no.3
• /
• pp.211-232
• /
• 2019

Porous ceramics are promising materials for a number of functional and structural applications that include thermal insulation, filters, bio-scaffolds for tissue engineering, and preforms for composite fabrication. These applications take advantage of the special characteristics of porous ceramics, such as low thermal mass, low thermal conductivity, high surface area, controlled permeability, and low density. In this review, we emphasize the direct foaming method, a simple and versatile approach that allows the fabrication of porous ceramics with tailored microstructure, along with distinctive properties. The wet foam stability is achieved under the controlled addition of amphiphiles to the colloidal suspension, which induce in situ hydrophobization, allowing the wet foam to resist coarsening and Ostwald ripening upon drying and sintering. Different components, like contact angle, adsorption free energy, air content, bubble size, and Laplace pressure, play vital roles in the stabilization of the particle stabilized wet foam to the porous ceramics. The mechanical behavior of the load-displacements curves of sintered samples was investigated using Herzian indentations testes. From the collected results, we found that microporous structures with pore sizes from 30 ㎛ to 570 ㎛ and the porosity within the range from 70% to 85%.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.124-125
• /
• 2007

The composites were fabricated $\beta$-SiC and $TiB_2$ powders with the liquid forming additives of 8, 12, 16[wt%] $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ as a sintering aid by pressureless annealing at $1,650[^{\circ}C]$ for 4 hours. Reactions between SiC and transition metal $TiB_2$ were not observed in the microstructure and the phase analysis of the pressureless annealed SiC-$TiB_2$ electroconductive ceramic composites. The relative density, the flexural strength, the Young's modulus and the Vicker's hardness showed the highest value of 82.29[%], 189.5[MPa], 54.60 [GPa] and 2.84[GPa] for SiC-$TiB_2$ composites added with 16[wt%] $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ additives at room temperature. The relative density of SiC-$TiB_2$ composites was lowered due to gaseous products of the result of reaction between SiC and $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$. The electrical resistivity showed the lowest value of 0.012[${\Omega}{\cdot}cm$] for 16[wt%] at 25[$^{\circ}C$]. The electrical resistivity was all negative temperature coefficient resistance (NTCR) in the temperature ranges from 25[$^{\circ}C$] to 700[$^{\circ}C$].

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.134-140
• /
• 2013

Objectives: There has been a growing interest in glass ceramic systems with good esthetics, high fracture resistance and bonding durability, and simplified fabrication techniques using CAD/CAM. The aim of this study is to compare flexural strength before and after heat treatment of two lithium disilicate CAD/CAM blocks, IPS e.max CAD (Ivoclar Vivadent) and Rosetta SM (Hass), and to observe their crystalline structures. Materials and Methods: Biaxial flexural strength was tested according to ISO 6872 with 20 disc form specimens sliced from each block before and after heat treatment. Also, the crystalline structures were observed using field-emission scanning microscopy (FE-SEM, Hitachi) and x-ray diffraction (XRD, Rigaku) analysis. The mean values of the biaxial flexural strength were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test at a significance level of p = 0.05. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in flexural strength between IPS e.max CAD and Rosetta SM either before heat treatment or after heat treatment. For both ceramics, the initial flexural strength greatly increased after heat treatment, with significant differences (p < 0.05). The FE-SEM images presented similar patterns of crystalline structure in the two ceramics. In the XRD analysis, they also had similar patterns, presenting high peak positions corresponding to the standard lithium metasilicate and lithium disilicate at each stage of heat treatment. Conclusions: IPS e.max CAD and Rosetta SM showed no significant differences in flexural strength. They had a similar crystalline pattern and molecular composition.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.104-110
• /
• 2019

The low-temperature sintering behavior of AlN was investigated through a conventional method. $CaF_2$, CuO and Cu were selected as additives based on their low melting points. When sintered at $1600^{\circ}C$ for 8 h in $N_2$ atmosphere, a sample density > 98% was obtained. The X-ray data indicated that eutectic reactions below $1200^{\circ}C$ were found. Therefore, the current systems have lower liquid formation temperatures than other systems. The liquid phase showed high dihedral angles at triple grain junctions, indicating that the liquid had poor wettability on the grain surfaces. Eventually, the liquid was likely to vaporize due to the unfavorable wetting condition. As a result, a microstructure with clean grain boundaries was obtained, resulting in higher contiguity between grains. From EDS analysis, oxygen impurity seems to be well removed in AlN lattice. Therefore, it is believed that the current systems are beneficial for reducing sintering temperature and improving oxygen removal.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.461-466
• /
• 2018

The effects of Ca/Sr ratio and the sintering temperature on the properties of $(Ca_xSr_{(1-x)})ZrO_3$ (CSZ) ceramics were investigated in this study. CSZ ceramics were prepared using solid-state reaction process, which were sintered in air at temperatures ranging from $1350^{\circ}C$ to $1450^{\circ}C$. Their structures were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The change in Ca/Sr ratio significantly affected the crystalline phase and the dielectric properties of the $(Ca_xSr_{(1-x)})ZrO_3$ ceramics. The secondary phase, $Ca_{0.15}Zr_{0.85}O_{1.85}$, was observed and increased correspondingly with the rising of sintering temperatures. In order to understand the effects of secondary phase on the dielectric properties of CSZ ceramics, the $Ca_{0.15}Zr_{0.85}O_{1.85}$ phase was prepared individually using solidstate method. The $Ca_{0.15}Zr_{0.85}O_{1.85}$ ceramics sintered at $1500^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours possessed a dielectric constant (${\varepsilon}_r$) of 21.7, a dielectric loss ($tan{\delta}$) of $49.510^{-4}$ and an Insulation Resistance (IR) of $2.1{\times}10^{10}{\Omega}$. The ($Ca_{0.7}Sr_{0.3})ZrO_3$ ceramics exhibited the best dielectric properties, with a permittivity of 29, a dielectric loss ($tan{\delta}$) of $2.7{\times}10^{-4}$, and an Insulation Resistance (IR) of $2.6{\times}10^{12}{\Omega}$.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.202-208
• /
• 2009

The effects of aging time on the microstructure and shear strength of the Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC)/Ag pad/Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG)/BGA solder joints were investigated through isothermal aging at $150^{\circ}C$ for 1000 h with conventional Sn-37Pb and Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu. $Ni_3Sn_4$ intermetallic compound (IMC) layers was formed at the interface between Sn-37Pb solder and LTCC substrate as-reflowed state, while $(Ni,Cu)_3Sn_4$ IMC layer was formed between Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu solder and LTCC substrate. Additional $(Cu,Ni)_6Sn_5$ layer was found at the interface between the $(Ni,Cu)_3Sn_4$ layer and Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu solder after aging at $150^{\circ}C$ for 500 h. Thickness of the IMC layers increased and coarsened with increasing aging time. Shear strength of both solder joints increased with increasing aging time. Failure mode of BGA solder joints with LTCC substrate after shear testing revealed that shear strength of the joints depended on the adhesion between Ag metallization and LTCC. Fracture mechanism of Sn-37Pb solder joint was a mixture of ductile and pad lift, while that of Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu solder joint was a mixture of ductile and brittle $(Ni,Cu)_3Sn_4$ IMC fracture morphology. Failure mechanisms of LTCC/Ag pad/ENIG/BGA solder joints were also interpreted by finite element analyses.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.205-211
• /
• 2022

The Granule Spray in Vacuum (GSV) process is a method of forming a dense nanostructured ceramic coating film by spraying ceramic granules on a substrate at room temperature in a vacuum. In the Granule Spray, the granules made by agglomerating particles with the size from submicrometer to micrometer can be sprayed into the substrate. Once the granules were squashed upon collision with the substrate, they become several dozens of nanometer-sized crystals in vacuum process. The zirconia of the monoclinic phase transform into tetragonal phase at 1150℃. At this time, its volume is changed by about 6.5 %. For this reason, it is widely held that it is difficult to acquire a compact of monoclinic zirconia sinter. In this study, the effect of particle treatment temperature and standoff distance on the substrate of zirconia granules were investigated in GSV. Also, particle treatment temperature, standoff distance, coating efficiency, and microstructure of the film were considered in forming the monoclinic zirconia coating film in GSV without any heating process. The deposited films exhibited monoclinic zirconia phase without any other detectable phase by X-ray diffractometer (XRD).

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.268-273
• /
• 2014

$Y_2O_3$ ceramic specimens were fabricated from the granular powder, obtained by spray drying process from the slurry. The slurry was prepared by mixing PVA binder, NaOH for Ph control, PEG and $Y_2O_3$ powder. The $Y_2O_3$ specimen was shaped in size of ${\phi}14mm$ and then sintered at $1650^{\circ}C$. The characteristics, microstructure, densities and plasma resistance of the $Y_2O_3$ specimens were investigated with the function of forming pressure and sintering time. $Y_2O_3$ specimens were exposed under the $CHF_3/O_2/Ar$ plasma, the dry etching treatment of specimens was carried out by the physical reaction etching of $Ar^+$ ion beam and the chemical reaction etching of $F^-$ ion decomposed from $CHF_3$. With increasing sintering time, $Y_2O_3$ specimens showed relatively high density and strong resistance in plasma etching test.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.34-40
• /
• 2011

The bulk density, water absorption and microstructure of the artificial aggregates were controlled as a function of sintering temperature (1100 and $1200^{\circ}C$) and time (10~60 min) in the fabrication process of the artificial aggregates by the direct sintering process using dredged soil, the inorganic wastes. Also, the physical properties of the artificial aggregates fabricated according to the different sintering methods such as the direct sintering method used in this study and the increasing temperature sintering method used in the previous report, were compared and analysed. The bulk density of aggregates sintered at $1200^{\circ}C$ by the direct sintering method showed below 1.0, and the thickness of a shell and the pore size of the black core were increased with sintering temperature. Also, in the same sintering temperature, the area of black core was decreased, the thickness of shell was increased and the water absorption was decreased with sintering time. The black core of artificial aggregates of bulk density below 1.0 had the similar microstructure, regardless of sintering methods. In contrast, the shell of aggregates fabricated by the increasing temperature sintering method showed more dense microstructure than that by direct sintering method, hence the water absorption of aggregate sintered using direct sintering was relatively high. Thus, the direct sintering method is suitable for fabrication of artificial aggregates in ceramic carriers or absorbents applications.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.116-124
• /
• 2024

In this study, we investigated the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of 0.96(K_0.456Na_0.536)Nb_0.95Sb_0.05-0.04Bi_0.5(Na_0.82K_0.18)_0.5ZrO₃ (KNNS-BNKZ) ceramics based on one-step and two-step sintering processes. One-step sintering led to significant abnormal grain (AG) growth at temperatures above 1,085 ℃. With increasing sintering temperature, piezoelectric and dielectric properties were enhanced, resulting in a high d₃₃ = 506 pC/N for one-step specimen sintered at 1,100 ℃ (one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen). However, for one-step 1,115 ℃ specimen, a slight decrease in d₃₃ was observed, emphasizing the importance of a high tetragonal (T) phase fraction for superior piezoelectric properties. Achieving a relative density above 84 % for samples sintered by the one-step sintering process was challenging. Conversely, two-step sintering significantly improved the relative density of KNNS-BNKZ ceramics up to 96 %, attributed to the control of AG nucleation in the first step and grain growth rate control in the second step. The quantity of AG nucleation was affected by the duration of the first step, determining the final microstructure. Despite having a lower T phase fraction than that of the one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen, the two-step specimen exhibited higher piezoelectric coefficients (d₃₃ = 574 pC/N and k_p = 0.5) than those of the one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen due to its higher relative density. Performance evaluation of magnetoelectric composite devices composed of one-step and two-step specimens showed that despite having a higher g₃₃, the magnetoelectric composite with the one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen exhibited the lowest magnetoelectric voltage coefficient, due to its lowest k_p. This study highlights the essential role of phase fraction and relative density in enhancing the performance of piezoelectric materials and devices, showcasing the effectiveness of the two-step sintering process for controlling the microstructure of ceramic materials containing volatile elements.