• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.869-878
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• 2001

Alumina $(Al_2O_3)$ green bodies were fabricated by gel-casting using three kinds of alumina with different particle size (mean particle size: 4.6 $\mu\textrm{m}$, 0.32 $\mu\textrm{m}$, 10nm). The effects of particle size on gel-casting process and green microstructure were investigated. The optimum dispersion conditions using ammonium salt (D-3019) as dispersant were 0.2 wt% (4.63 $\mu\textrm{m}$), 0.5 wt% (0.32 $\mu\textrm{m}$), and 5.0 wt% (10 nm), in high solid loading. The optimum solid loading of each starting material for gel-casting was obtained as 59 vol% (4.63 $\mu\textrm{m}$), 57 vol% (0.32 $\mu\textrm{m}$), 15 vol% (10 nm), depending on particle size, indicating that nano-size particle (10 nm) represent lower solid loading as high specific surface area than those of other two starting materials. The drying at ambient conditions (humidity; $\thickapprox$90%) was performed more than 48hrs to enable ejection of the part from the mold and then at $120^{\circ}C$ for 2hrs in an air oven, showing no crack and flaw in the dried green bodies. The pore size and distribution of the gelcast green bodies showed the significant decrease with decreasing particle size. Green microstructure was dependent on the pore size and distribution due to the particle size, and on the deairing step. The green density maximum obtained was 58.9% (4.63 $\mu\textrm{m}$), 60% (0.32 $\mu\textrm{m}$), 47% (10 nm) theoretical density (TD), and the deairing step applied before gel-casting did not affect green density.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.678-685
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of applied pressure and sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties for spark plasma sintering (SPS) from commercial pure titanium (CP-Ti) powders. Spark plasma sintering is a relatively new sintering technique in powder metallurgy which is capable of sintering metal and ceramic powers quickly to full density at a fairly low temperature due to its unique features. SPS of -200 mesh or -400 mesh CP-Ti powders was carried out in an $Ar+H_2$ mixed gas flowing atmosphere between $650^{\circ}C$ and $750^{\circ}C$ under 10 to 80 MPa pressure. When SPS was carried out at relatively low temperatures ($650^{\circ}C$ to $750^{\circ}C$), the high (>60 MPa) pressure had a marked effect on densification and grain growth suppression. The full density of titanium was achieved at temperatures and pressures above $700^{\circ}C$ and 60 MPa by spark plasma sintering. The crystalline phase and microstructure of titanium sintered up to $700^{\circ}C$ consisted of ${\alpha}$-Ti and equiaxed grains. Vickers hardness ranging from 293 to 362 Hv and strength ranging from 304 to 410 MPa were achieved for spark plasma sintered titanium.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.257-262
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• 2019

The control of microstructure is critical for the porous fuel particles used for infiltrating actinide nuclides. This study concerns the effect of heating processes on properties and microstructure of the fuel particles. The uniform gel precursor beads were synthesized by a microfluidic sol-gel process and then the porous $CeO_2$ microspheres, as a surrogate for the ceramic nuclear fuel particles, were obtained by heating treatment of the gel precursors. The fabricated $CeO_2$ microspheres have a narrow size distribution and good sphericity due to the feature of microfluidics. The effects of heating processes parameters, such as heating mode and peak temperatures on the properties of microspheres were studied in detail. An optimized heating mode and the peak temperature of $650^{\circ}C$ were selected to produce porous $CeO_2$ microspheres. The optimized heating mode can avoid the appearance of broken or crack microspheres in the heating process, and as-prepared porous microspheres were of suitable pore size distribution and pore volume for loading minor actinide (MA) solution by an infiltration method that is used for fabrication of MA-bearing nuclear fuel beads. After the infiltration process, $1000^{\circ}C$ was selected as the final temperature to improve the compressive strength of microspheres.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.942-948
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• 2010

In this study we aims to examine the effects of 0.5 mol% $Cr_2O_3$ addition on the reaction, microstructure development, resultant electrical properties, and especially the bulk trap and interface state levels of ZnO-$Bi_2O_3-Sb_2O_3$ (Sb/Bi=0.5, 1.0, and 2.0) systems (ZBS). The samples were prepared by conventional ceramic process, and characterized by XRD, density, SEM, I-V, impedance and modulus spectroscopy (IS & MS) measurement. The sintering and electrical properties of Cr-doped ZBS (ZBSCr) systems were controlled by Sb/Bi ratio. Pyrochlore ($Zn_2Bi_3Sb_3O_{14}$) was decomposed more than $100^{\circ}C$ lowered on heating in ZBS (Sb/Bi=1.0) by Cr doping. The densification of ZBSCr (Sb/Bi=0.5) system was retarded to $800^{\circ}C$ by unknown Bi-rich phase produced at $700^{\circ}C$. Pyrochlore on cooling was reproduced in all systems. And $Zn_7Sb_2O_{12}$ spinel ($\alpha$-polymorph) and $\delta-Bi_2O_3$ phase were formed by Cr doping. In ZBSCr, the varistor characteristics were not improved drastically (non-linear coefficient $\alpha$ = 7~12) and independent on microstructure according to Sb/Bi ratio. Doping of $Cr_2O_3$ to ZBS seemed to form $Zn_i^{..}$(0.16 eV) and $V^{\bullet}_o$ (0.33 eV) as dominant defects. From IS & MS, especially the grain boundaries of Sb/Bi=0.5 systems were divided into two types, i.e. sensitive to oxygen and thus electrically active one (1.1 eV) and electrically inactive intergranular one (0.95 eV) with temperature.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.505-513
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• 2006

The present study investigated the influence of the content of $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ sintering additives on the microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties of the pressureless-sintered $SiC-ZrB_2$ electroconductive ceramic composites. Phase analysis of composites by XRD revealed mostly of ${\alpha}-SiC(4H),\;ZrB_2,\;{\beta}-SiC(15R)$ and In Situ $YAG(Al_5Y_3O_{12})$. The relative density and the flexural strength showed the highest value of 86.8[%] and 203[Mpa] for $SiC-ZrB_2$ composite with an addition of 8[wt%] $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ as a sintering aid at room temperature respectively. Owing to crack deflection and crack bridging of fracture toughness mechanism, the fracture toughness showed 3.7 and $3.6[MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}]\;for\;SiC-ZrB_2$ composites with an addition of 8 and 12[wt%] $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ as a sintering aid at room temperature respectively. Abnormal grain growth takes place during phase transformation from ${\beta}-SiC\;into\;{\alpha}-SiC$ was correlated with In Situ YAG phase by reaction between $Al_2O_3\;and\;Y_2O_3$ additives during sintering. The electrical resistivity showed the lowest value of $6.5{\times}10^{-3}[({\Omega}{\cdot}cm]$ for the $SiC-ZrB_2$ composite with an addition of 8[wt%] $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ as a sintering aid at room temperature. The electrical resistivity of the $SiC-ZrB_2$ composites was all positive temperature coefficient(PTCR) in the temperature ranges from $25[^{\circ}C]\;to\;700[^{\circ}C]$. The resistance temperature coefficient showed the highest value of $3.53{\times}10^{-3}/[^{\circ}C]\;for\;SiC-ZrB_2$ composite with an addition of 8[wt%] $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ as a sintering aid in the temperature ranges from $25[^{\circ}C]\;to\;700[^{\circ}C]$. In this paper, it is convinced that ${\beta}-SiC$ based electroconductive ceramic composites for heaters or ignitors can be manufactured by pressureless sintering.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2009

The effect of ${Y_2}{O_3}$ as a sintering additive on thermal conductivity and microstructure of pressureless sintered AIN ceramics was investigated at sintering temperature range from 1,700 to $1,900^{\circ}C$. ${Y_2}{O_3}$ added AIN specimens showed higher densification rate than pure AIN because of the formation of the yttrium aluminates secondary phase by reaction of ${Y_2}{O_3}$ and ${Al_2}{O_3}$ of AIN surface. The thermal conductivity of AIN specimens was promoted by the addition of ${Y_2}{O_3}$ in spite of the formation of secondary phase in AIN gram boundaries and grain boundary triple junction, because ${Y_2}{O_3}$ addition could reduced the oxygen contents in AIN lattice which is primary factor of thermal conductivity. The them1al conductivity of AIN specimens was promoted by increasing sintering time because the increases of average grain size and the elimination of secondary phases from the grain boundary due to the evaporation. Particularly. the thermal conductivity of AIN specimen sintered at $1,900^{\circ}C$ for 5 hours improved over 20 %. $141\;Wm^{-1}K^{-1}$, compared with the specimen sintered at $1,900^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.189-189
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• 2008

Due to the environmental issue vast research is going on to replace the widely used lead contented piezoelectric materials. Bismuth sodium titanate (abbreviated as BNT) based bismuth sodium titanate-barium titanate (abbreviated as BNBT) ceramic was prepared by using modified method rather than conventional mixed oxide method. This modification was made to improve the properties of BNT based ceramic. In this procedure $BaTiO_3$ (abbreviated as BT) was prepared using conventional mixed oxide method. Analytical grade raw materials of $BaCO_3$ and $TiO_2$ were weighted and ball milled using ethanol medium. The mixed slurry was dried and sieved under 80 mesh. Then the powder was calcined at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. This calcined BT powder was used in the preparation of BNBT. Stoichiometric amount of $Bi_2O_3$, $Na_2CO_3$, $TiO_2$ and BT were weighted and mixed by using ball mill. The used calcination temperature was $850^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. Calcined powder was taken for another milling step. BNBT disks were pressed to 15 mm of diameter and then cold isostatical press (CIP) was used. Pressed samples were sintered at $1150^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. The SEM microstructure analysis revealed that the grain shape of the sintered ceramic was polyhedral and grain boundary was well matched where as the sample prepared by conventional method showed irregular arrangement and grain boundary not well matched. And sintered density was better (5.78 g/cc) for the modified method. It was strongly observed that the properties of BNBT ceramic near MPB composition was found to be improved by the modified method compare to the conventional mixed oxide method. The piezoelectric constant dB of 177.33 pC/N, electromechanical coupling factor $k_p$ of 33.4%, dielectric constant $K_{33}^T$ of 688.237 and mechanical quality factor $Q_m$ of 109.37 was found.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.808-815
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• 2008

The composites were fabricated 61[vol.%] ${\beta}$-SiC and 39[vol.%] $TiB_2$ 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 1650[$^{\circ}C$] for 4 hours. The present study investigated the influence of the content of $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ sintering additives on the microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties of the pressureless annealed SiC-$TiB_2$ electroconductive ceramic composites. 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. Phase analysis of SiC-$TiB_2$ composites by XRD revealed mostly of ${\alpha}$-SiC(6H), ${\beta}$-SiC(3C), $TiB_2$, and In Situ YAG($Al_2Y_3O_{12}$). The relative density of SiC-$TiB_2$ composites was lowered due to gaseous products of the result of reaction between SiC and $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$. There is another reason which pressureless annealed temperature 1650[$^{\circ}C$] is lower $300{\sim}450[^{\circ}C]$ than applied pressure sintering temperature $1950{\sim}2100[^{\circ}C]$. 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. Abnormal grain growth takes place during phase transformation from ${\beta}$-SiC into ${\alpha}$-SiC was correlated with In Situ YAG phase by reaction between $Al_2O_3$ and $Y_2O_3$ additive during sintering. The electrical resistivity showed the lowest value of 0.0117[${\Omega}{\cdot}cm$] for 16[wt%] $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ additives at 25[$^{\circ}C$]. The electrical resistivity was all negative temperature coefficient resistance (NTCR) in the temperature ranges from $25^{\circ}C$ to 700[$^{\circ}C$]. The resistance temperature coefficient of composite showed the lowest value of $-2.3{\times}10^{-3}[^{\circ}C]^{-1}$ for 16[wt%] additives in the temperature ranges from 25[$^{\circ}C$] to 100[$^{\circ}C$].

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.235-242
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• 2018

High temperature electrical conductivity of Aluminum Nitride (AlN) ceramics sintered with $Y_2O_3$ as a sintering aid has been investigated with respect to various sintering conditions and MgO-dopant. When magnesium oxide is added as a dopant, liquid glass-film and crystalline phases such as spinel, perovskite are formed as second phases, which affects their electrical properties. According to high temperature impedance analysis, MgO doping leads to reduction of activation energy and electrical resistivity due to AlN grains. On the other hand, the activation energy and electrical resistivity due to grain boundary were increased by MgO doping. This is a result of the formation of liquid glass film in the grain boundary, which contains Mg ions, or the elevation of schottky barrier due to the precipitation of Mg in the grain boundary. For the annealed sample of MgO doped AlN, the electrical resistivity and activation energy were increased further compared to MgO doped AlN, which results from diffusion of Mg in the grains from grain boundary as shown in the microstructure.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.182-189
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• 2021

Porous ceramics were manufactured using the foaming method for the development of inorganic insulating materials. Silica fume and SiO₂ were used as main raw materials, and bentonite was used as a rapid setting agent for uniform structure formation of porous ceramics. The porous ceramics were sintered at 1200℃, and porosity, density, compressive strength, microstructure and thermal conductivity were analyzed. As the content of silica fume to SiO₂ of the porous ceramics increased 70 to 90 %, the specific gravity increased from 0.63 to 0.69, and the compressive strength increased from 9.41 Mpa to 12.86 Mpa. But, the porosity showed a tendency to decrease from 72.07 % to 70.82 %, contrary to the specific gravity. As a result of measuring the thermal conductivity, the porous ceramic with a silica fume content of 70 % showed a thermal conductivity of 0.75 to 0.72 W/m·K at 25 to 800℃, respectively, and, another that a silica fume content of 90 % showed a 0.66~0.86 W/m·K. So the lower the silica f ume content, the lower the thermal conductivity, which was conf irmed to be consistent with porosity result. As a result of microstructure analysis using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), pores in the range of tens to hundreds ㎛ were observed inside and outside the porous ceramic, and it was confirmed that the pore distribution was relatively uniform.