• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.137-140
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• 2005

Resin transfer molding (RTM) is one of the most popular processes for producing fiber reinforced polymer composites. In the manufacture of complex thick composite structures, analysis on flow front advancement on the resin impregnating the multi-layered fiber preform is helpful for the optimization of the process. In this study, three-dimensional mold filling simulation of RTM is carried out by using CVFEM (Control Volume Finite Element Method). On the assumption of isothermal flow of Newtonian fluid, Darcy’s law and continuity equation are used as governing equations. Different permeability tensors employed in each layer are obtained by experiments. Numerically predicted flow front is compared with experimental one in order to validate the numerical results. Flow simulations are conducted in the two mold geometries, rectangular plate and hollow cylinder. Permeability tensor of each layer preform in Cartesian coordinate system is transformed to cylinder coordinates system so that the flow within the multi-layered preforms of the hollow cylinder can be calculated exactly. Our emphasis is on the three dimensional flow analysis for circular three-dimensional braided preform, which shows outstanding mechanical properties such as high impact strength and toughness compared with other conventional two-dimensional laminar-structured preforms.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.530-540
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• 1994

Aluminium-silicon alloy(JIS AC8A) matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles were fabricated by spray-cast forming process, and the microstructure of powders and preforms produced were studied by using an optical and scanning electron microscopy. SiC particles were co-sprayed by mixed phase injection method during the spray casting process. Most of the composite powders formed by this mixed phase injection method exhibit morphology of particle-embedded type, and some exhibits the morphology of particle attached type due to additional attachment of the SiC particles on the surface of the powders in flight. The preforms deposited were resulted in dispersed type microstructure. The pre-solidified droplets and the deposited preform of SiC-reinforced aluminium alloy exhibit finer equiaxed grain size than that of unreinforced aluminium alloy. Eutectic silicons of granular type are crystallized at the corner of the aluminum grains in the preforms deposited, and some SiC particles seem to act as nucleation sites for primary/eutectic silicon during solidification. Such primary/eutectic silicons seem to retard grain growth during the continued spray casting process. It is envisaged from the microstructural observations for the deposited preform that the resultant distribution of SiC injected particles in the Al-Si microsturcture is affected by the amount of liquid phase in the top part of the preform and by the solidification rate of the preform deposited.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.849-860
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• 1994

The microstructural evolution and crystalline phases of this infiltration of Ti+Al liquids in TiC, SiC, TiC+C, and SiC+C preforms have been investigated. As the Ti and Al mixing ratio in Ti+Al infiltrated liquid changes, the newly formed reaction products, which were reacted from the Ti+Al liquid with preforms, consisted of three major phases as Ti3AlC, Al2Ti4C2 or Al4C3. The TiC grain shape was changed to spheroid, when Ti3AlC was formed. In case of Al2Ti4C2 formation, the platelet grain was formed from the original TiC grain. When Al4C3 was formed, nodular or intergranular fine-grained Al4C3 was formed around the TiC grain, while the original TiC grain shape was not changed.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.995-1002
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• 1996

The TiC-(Ni/Ti) composites were prepared by reaction bonding between TiC preforms and the melted mixture of Ni/Ti metal the atomic ratio of which were the ranges of 0.3 to 3. And their microstructures phase composi-tions and mechanical properties were investigated. During reaction bonding Ni/Ti metal mixture had a good wettability an permeability with TiC preforms and pore-free and fully dense sintered bodies were fabricated. TiC particle shape changed from spherical to angular platelet-like and grain size was grown with Ni/Ti atomic ratio increasing from 0.3 to 1. whereas grain growth of TiC particle was restrained and its shape changed gain from angular platelet-like to spherical when Ni/Ti atomic ratio was more than 2. Maximum bending strength and fracture toughness were obtained at the Ni/Ti atomic ratio being 1 their values were 582 MPa and 11.1 MPa.m1/2 respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.133-136
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• 2001

The effect of pre-carbonization condition on the mechanical properties of nonwoven needle-punched carbon/phenolic composite was studied. The nonwoven Oxi-PAN felt was pre-carbonized at different temperature. The pre-carbonized Oxi-PAN felt was needle-punched and then carbonized. Needle-punched nonwoven carbon preforms were formed into composites with phenol resin. The tensile and flexural strengths showed maximum value with pre-carbonization temperature of $500^{\circ}C$. Compared with the non-pre-carbonized composite, the mechanical properties were slightly improved.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.146-149
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• 2007

The 2-step manufacturing method consisting of preforming and stamping processes was developed to manufacture composite bipolar plates for PEMFCs. The preform was composed of expanded graphite, graphite flake and phenol resin. Precuring conditions were optimized by checking the electrical conductivity, flexural strength and microstructure. Precuring temperature ($100^{\circ}C$) slightly above the melting point of phenol powders ($90^{\circ}C$) induced moderate curing, but also prevented excessive curing. Preforms utilizing the tangled structure of expanded graphite were easily fabricated at low pressure of 0.07-0.28MPa. The proper precuring time, 5min, was determined to fabricate the preform stably because insufficient and excessive precuring deteriorated the flexural strength of composite bipolar plates.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2000

Effects of microstructure and indentation stress on fracture behavior of glass-infiltrated alumina composite for dental restorative application were investigated by the Hertzian and Vickers indentation method. Indentation stress-strain curve of glass-infiltrated alumina has showed the quasi-plastic behavior - deviation from linearity at high stress and the classical Hertzian cone crack, which could be confirmed the subsurface damage micrographs using bonded-interface specimen technique. The indentation stress-strain curves for the starting preforms are strongly dependent on porosity and microstructure of the preforms. On the other hand, the curves for the infiltrated composites are relatively insensitive to these factors. The failure of composite is originated at quasi-plastic deformation region. Damage and fracture behavior due to Hertzian stress field is theoretically examined, so that the indentation stress field plays a great role in material degradation. After Hertzian indentation annealing processing changes fracture behavior of alumina composite, so that stress field in material is healed through annealing.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.280-283
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• 2002

In the manufacturing of large scale composite structures, the cost-effective processing and the enhancement of structural performance are critical. One of the most effective ways for this purpose is to use stitched multiaxial warp knitted (MWK) perform in the resin transfer molding process. This study reports the effect of stitching on the mechanical properties of MWK composites, and the feasibility processing of the thick U-beam structure utilizing the stitched preforms. Permeability of the preform, viscosity and cure property of the epoxy resin have been measured. The results of resin flow analysis has been used in determining the gate/vent locations of the RTM mold. Cross-sectional observation of the channel beam prototype demonstrated that the resin impregnation was almost complete, except for some surrounding area of stitched yarns.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.580-586
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• 2007

In this study, 4 directional carbon/carbon composites with different preform architectures were manufactured and their thermophysical properties are studied. Carbon fiber preforms are fabricated with fiber bundles using four different spaces. The density of the fabricated preforms were increased through pressure impregnation and carbonizing process. The increased density of the composites was graphitized at $2300^{\circ}C$. Microstructures of these composite were observed under scanning electron microscope. This was to understand the effect the preform architectures has on the thermophysical properties of carbon/carbon composites. Also, the behavior of thermal conduction and heat expansion was investigated and studied in association with the factors of the reinforced direction of fibers and unit cell of preforms.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.369-381
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• 1993

Aluminum alloy(AC8A) matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles(10% in vol.) were fabricated by Centrifugal Spray Deposition(CSD) process. The microstructures were investigated in order to evaluate both the mixing mode between aluminum matrix and SiC particles, and the effect of SiC particles on the cooling behaviours of droplets during flight and preforms deposited. A non-continuum mathematical calculation was performed to explain and to quantify the evolution of microstructures in the droplets and preforms deposited. Conclusions obtained are as follows; 1. The powders produced by CSD process showed, in general, ligament type, and more than 60% of the powders produced were about 300 to 850 um in size. 2. AC8A droplets solidified during flight showed fine dendritic structure, but AC8A droplets mixed with SiC particles showed fine equiaxed grain structure, and eutectic silicon were formed to crystallize granularly between fine aluminum grains. 3. SiC particles seem to act as a nucleation sites for pro-eutectic silicon during solidification of AC8A alloy. 4. The microstructure of composite powders formed by CSD process showed particle embedded type, and resulted in dispersed type microstructure in preforms deposited. 5. The pro-eutectic silicon crystallized granularly between fine aluminum grains seem to prohibit grains from growth during spray deposition process. 6. The interfacial reactions between aluminum matrix and SiC particles were not observed from the deposit performs and the solidified droplets. 7. The continuum model seem to be useful in connecting the processing parameters with the resultant microstructures. From these results, it was concluded that the fabrication of aluminum matrix composites reinforced homogeneously with SiC particles was possible.