• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.261-264
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• 2005

Since the first discovery of carbon nanotube (CNT) in 1991, a window to new technological areas has been opened. One of the emerging applications of CNTs is the reinforcement of composite materials to overcome the performance limits of conventional materials. However, because of the difficulties in distributing CNTs homogeneously in metal or ceramic matrix by means of traditional composite processes, it has been doubted whether CNTs can really reinforce metals or ceramics. In this study, CNT reinforced Cu matrix nanocomposite is fabricated by a novel fabrication process named molecular level mixing process. This process produces CNT/Cu composite powders whereby the CNTs are homogeneously implanted within Cu powders. The CNT/Cu nanocomposite, consolidated by spark plasma sintering of CNT/Cu composite powders, shows to be 3 times higher strength and 2 times higher Young’s modulus than Cu matrix. This extra-ordinary strengthening effect of carbon nanotubes in metal is higher than that of any other reinforcement ever used for metal matrix composites.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.238-247
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• 1992

A carbon fiber(CF) reinforced Cu-10%Sn alloy matrix composite was successfully fabricated by squeeze casting method employing preheated graphite mold and proper process controlling factors. The matrix solidification microstructure of the Cu-10%Sn/CF composite reveals ${\alpha}-dendrite$ and ${\alpha}+{\delta}$ eutectoid. To compare the squeeze cast Cu-10%Sn/CF compostie with PM route fabricated Cu-graphite composites for electric contact material, mechanical wear and electrical arc wear tests were performed. Mechanical wear rate of the Cu-10%Sn/CF is much lower than that of the Cu-graphite composite. Weight loss with a variation of contact number in electrical arc wear tests shows a similar trend between the squeeze cast Cu-10%Sn/CF and PM Cu-graphite composites.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2020

A powder-in-sheath rolling method is applied to the fabrication of a carbon nano tube (CNT) reinforced copper composite. A copper tube with outer diameter of 30 mm and wall thickness of 2 mm is used as sheath material. A mixture of pure copper powder and CNTs with a volume content of 3 % is filled in a tube by tap filling and then processed to an 93.3 % reduction using multi-pass rolling after heating for 0.5 h at 400 ℃. The specimen is then sintered for 1h at 500 ℃. The relative density of the 3 vol%CNT/Cu composite fabricated using powder in sheath rolling is 98 %, while that of the Cu powder compact is 99 %. The microstructure is somewhat heterogeneous in width direction in the composite, but is relatively homogeneous in the Cu powder compact. The hardness distribution is also ununiform in the width direction for the composite. The average hardness of the composites is higher by 8Hv than that of Cu powder compact. The tensile strength of the composite is 280 MPa, which is 20 MPa higher than that of the Cu powder compact. It is concluded that the powder in sheath rolling method is an effective process for fabrication of sound CNT reinforced Cu matrix composites.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.626-634
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• 2021

Cu matrix composites reinforced with chopped carbon fiber (CF), which is cost effective and can be well dispersed, are fabricated using electroless plating and hot pressing, and the effects of content and alignment of CF on the thermal properties of CF/Cu composites are studied. Thermal conductivity of CF/Cu composite increases with CF content in the in-plane direction, but it decreases above 10% CF; this is due to reduction of thermal diffusivity related with phonon scattering by agglomeration of CF. The coefficient of thermal expansion decreases in the in-plane direction and increases in the through-plane direction as the CF content increases. This is because the coefficient of thermal expansion of the long axis of CF is smaller than that of the Cu matrix, and the coefficient of thermal expansion of its short axis is larger than that of the Cu matrix. The thermal conductivity is greatly influenced by the agglomeration of CF in the CF/Cu composite, whereas the coefficient of thermal expansion is more influenced by the alignment of CF than the aggregation of CF.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.105-109
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• 2014

The microstructure of as-quenched $Al_{70}Cu_{18}Mg_{12}$ alloy has been investigated in detail using transmission electron microscopy. Al nano-crystals about 5 nm with a high density are distributed in the amorphous matrix, indicating amorphous matrix nano-composite can be synthesized in Al-Cu-Mg alloy. The high density of Al nano-crystals indicates very high nucleation rate and sluggish growth rate during crystallization possibly due to limited diffusion rate of solute atoms of Cu and Mg during solute partitioning. The result of hardness measurement shows that the mechanical properties can be improved by designing a nano-composite structure where nanometer scale crystals are embedded in the amorphous matrix.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.292-297
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• 2007

The present study was focused on the synthesis of a $TiB_2$ dispersed copper matrix composite material by the combination of the mechanical milling and plasma activated sintering processes. The $Cu/TiB_2$ mixed powder was prepared by the combination of the mechanical milling and reduction processes using the copper oxide and titanium diboride powder as the raw material. The synthesized $Cu/TiB_2$ mixed powder was sintered by the plasma activated sintering process. The hardness and electric conductivity of the sintered bodies were measured using micro vickers hardness and four probe method, respectively. The relative density of $Cu/TiB_2$ composite material sintered at $800^{\circ}C$ showed about 98% of theoretical density. The $Cu-1vol%TiB_2$ composite material has a hardness of about 130Hv and an electric conductivity of about 85% IACS. The hardness and electric conductivity of $Cu-3vol%TiB_2$ composite material were about 140 Hv and about 45% IACS, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.54-54
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• 2003

We have developed a Cu-based bulk amorphous composite reinforced with a micron-sized crystalline phase, the (Cu60Zr30Ti10)95Ta5 amorphous matrix composite. The composite demonstrates the ultimate strength of 2332 MPa with a dramatically enhanced fracture strain of 15.3 %. Macroscopic observation of the fractured (Cu60Zr30Ti10)95Ta5 amorphous matrix composite showed the development of multiple shear bands along with numerous branching and deflection of shear bands. Microscopic observation on the amorphous matrix of the composite showed that cracks propagate through the residual amorphous matrix located between nanocrystallites, which had formed during deformation. Simulations based on finite element method were conducted to understand the formation mechanisms of multiple shear bands, the initiation site of shear bands, and interaction of shear bands with crystalline particles. Other microscopic fracture mechanism responsible for the enhanced plasticity was discussed.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 1990

The influences of Cu and Mg addition on wear properties of SiC particulate reinforced Al-Si metal(alloy) matrix composites were investigated. Metal matrix composites were prepared by combination of compocasting and hot pressing techniques. The main results obtained are as follows : 1) The composite with Mg addition exhibits letter wear resistance than that with Cu addition. It is considered that Mg addition improved wettability of matal matrix composite by the strong segregation to the SiC / Al matrix interface. 2) After homogenization treatment, it was found that the interfacial segregation of Mg was predominant, while that of Cu was not detected. 3) The SiC / Al-11Si eutectic composite exhibits better wear resistance than the SiC / Al-6Si hypoeutectic composite does. 4) It seems that the increase in the amount of Mg addition affects on the uniform dispersion of SiC particulates, on the refinement of microstructure and on age hardening and these effects cause wear resistance improvement of composites.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2008

Carbon nanotubes(CNTs) have outstanding mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Thus, by placing nanotubes into appropriate matrix, it is postulated that the resulting composites will have enhanced properties. Cold spray can produce thick metal-based composite coatings with very high density, low oxygen content, and phase purity, which leads to excellent physical properties. In this study, we applied cold spray coating process for the consolidation of Cu/CNT composite powder. The precursor powder mixture, in which CNTs were filled into copper particles, was prepared to improve the distribution of the CNT in copper matrix. Pure copper coating was also conducted by cold spraying as a reference. Annealing heat treatment was applied to the coating to examine its effect on the properties of the composite coating. The hardness of Cu/CNT composite coating represented similar value to that of pure copper coating. It was importantly found that the electrical conductivity of the Cu/CNT composite coating significantly increased from 53% for the standard condition to almost 55% in the optimized condition, taking annealed ($500^{\circ}C/1hr$.) copper coating as a reference (100%). The thermal conductivity of Cu/CNT composite coating layer was higher than that of pure Cu coating. It was also found that the electrical and thermal conductivities of Cu/CNT composite could be improved through annealing heat treatment. The microstructural evolution of Cu/CNT coating was also investigated and related to the macroscopic properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.50-53
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• 2003

Carbon nannofiber reinforced Cu matrix composite has potential applications for electrically conducting materials having high strength and electrical conductivity. In this study, we have developed fabrication technology of the nanocomposites using a liquid pressing process. The process is to use the low pressure for infiltration of Cu melt into carbon nanofiber mat as the Cu melt is pressurized directly. The minimum pressure required for infiltration was calculated from force balance equation, permeability measurement and compaction behavior of carbon nanofiber. Also, the melting temperature and the holding time have been optimized.