• 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.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.253-260
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• 2022

In this study, the microstructural characteristics of a high-speed-extruded Mg-5Bi-3Al (BA53) alloy and its tensile, compressive, and high-cycle fatigue properties are investigated. The BA53 alloy is successfully extruded at a die-exit speed of 16.6 m/min without any hot cracking using a large-scale extruder for mass production. The homogenized BA53 billet has a large grain size of ~900 ㎛ and it contains fine and coarse Mg₃Bi₂ particles. The extruded BA53 alloy has a fully recrystallized microstructure with an average grain size of 33.8 ㎛ owing to the occurrence of complete dynamic recrystallization during high-speed extrusion. In addition, the extruded BA53 alloy contains numerous fine lath-type Mg₃Bi₂ particles, which are formed through static precipitation during air cooling after exiting the extrusion die. The extruded BA53 alloy has a high tensile yield strength of 175.1 MPa and ultimate tensile strength of 244.4 MPa, which are mainly attributed to the relative fine grain size and numerous fine particles. The compressive yield strength (93.4 MPa) of the extruded BA53 alloy is lower than its tensile yield strength, resulting in a tension-compression yield asymmetry of 0.53. High-cycle fatigue test results reveal that the extruded BA53 alloy has a fatigue strength of 110 MPa and fatigue cracks initiate at the surface of fatigue test specimens, indicating that the Mg₃Bi₂ particles do not act as fatigue crack initiation sites. Furthermore, the extruded BA53 alloy exhibits a higher fatigue ratio of 0.45 than other commercial extruded Mg-Al-Zn-based alloys.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2015

To compare the microstructure and electrochemical properties between two binary alloys (Cr-Si, Ni-Si), two composition of binary alloys with the same capacity were selected using phase-diagram and prepared by matrix-stabilization method to suppress the volume expansion of Si by inactive-matrix. Master alloys were made by Arc-melting followed by fine structured ribbon sample preparation by Rapid Solidification Process (RSP, Melt-spinning method) under the same conditions. Also powder samples were produced by wet grinding for X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical measurements. As predicted from the phase diagram, only active-Si and inactive-matrix ($CrSi_2$, $NiSi_2$) were detected. The results of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (TEM-EDS) show that Cr-Si alloy has finer microstructure than Ni-Si alloy, which was also predictable through phase diagram. The electrochemical properties related to microstructure were evaluated by coin type full- and half-cells. Separately, self-designed test-cells were used to measure the volume expansion of Si during reaction. Volume expansion of Cr-Si alloy electrode with finer microstructure was suppressed significantly and improved in cycle capability, in comparison Ni-Si alloy with coarse microstructure. From these, we could infer the correlation of microstructure, volume expansion and electrochemical degradation and these properties might be predicted by phase diagram.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.174-181
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• 2018

Three kinds of STS304-Zr alloys were fabricated by varying the Zr content, and their microstructure and fracture properties were analyzed. Moreover, we performed heat treatment to improve their properties and studied their microstructure and fracture properties. The microstructure of the STS304-Zr alloys before and after the heat treatment process consisted of ${\alpha}-Fe$ and intermetallics: Zr(Cr, Ni, Fe)2 and Zr6Fe23. The volume fraction of the intermetallics increased with an increasing Zr content. The 11Zr specimen exhibited the lowest hardness and fine dimples and cleavage facets in a fractured surface. The 15Zr specimen had high hardness and fine cleavage facets. The 19Zr specimen had the highest hardness and large cleavage facets. After the heat treatment process, the intermetallics were spheroidized and their volume fraction increased. In addition, the specimens after the heat treatment process, the Laves phase (Zr(Cr, Ni, Fe) 2) decreased, the Zr6Fe23 phase increased and the Ni concentration in the intermetallics decreased. The hardness of all the specimens after the heat treatment process decreased because of the dislocations and residual stresses in ${\alpha}-Fe$, and the fine lamellar shaped eutectic microstructures changed into large ${\alpha}-Fe$ and spheroidized intermetallics. The cleavage facet size increased because of the decomposition of the fine lamellar-shaped eutectic microstructures and the increase in spheroidized intermetallics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 1999.03b
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• pp.195-198
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• 1999

For the thixoforming process beside an existing solidus-liquidus interval, the reheating conditions to obtain the globular microstructure are very important. It relies on the control of globular microstructure of semi-solid alloys that contain non-dendritic particles. To obtain the globular microstructure in cross section of billet, the optimal design of the induction coil is necessary. Therefore, in this paper the optimal coil design to minimize electromagnetic end effect will be proposed. The results of coil design were also applied to the reheating process to obtain a fine globular microstructure. Finally, reheating data base of aluminum alloys for thixoforming and FEM model for induction heating based on the optimal coil design have been proposed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.21-24
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• 2002

One of the factors influences on microstructure of semi-solid product is forging pressure. Generally, the more forging pressure makes the more fine microstructure in semi-solid compression test. The microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated according to the forging pressure. The applied pressure is 110MPa, 140MPa and 170MPa, respectively. Heat treatment conditions also influence to the microstructure and mechanical properties of semi-solid product. T6 heat treatment was performed and the evaluation of microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated according to the aging time in T6 heat treatment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09b
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• pp.1099-1100
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• 2006

The mechanical properties of ceramics materials can be tailored by designing their microstructures. We have reported that development of texture can be controlled by slip casting in a strong magnetic field followed by heating even for diamagnetic ceramics such as alumina. A strong magnetic field of 12T was applied to the suspension indcuding alumina powder to rotate each particle during slip casting. The sintering was conducted at the desired temperature in air without a magnetic field. C-axis of alumina was parallel to the magnetic field. Bending strength of textured alumina depended on the direction of oriented microstructure.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2020

Heat treatment conditions of 88.5% asymmetrically cold rolled oxygen free copper (OFC) sheets have been studied to obtain an equiaxed fine microstructure with a grain size of less than 10 ㎛. The commercial OFC sheets with the thickness of 10 mm were asymmetrically cold rolled by using equal speed asymmetric rolling (ESAR) processes and total rolling reduction. The thickness of the rolled sheets were 88.5% and 1.15 mm, respectively. An equiaxed fine microstructure of OFC sheets with a grain size of 6.0 ㎛ were obtained when the asymmetrically cold rolled OFC sheets were heat treated at 180℃ for 40 minutes. The tensile strength of the asymmetrically cold rolled specimen increased from 217.6 MPa to 396.1 MPa, while the elongation of the specimen asymmetrically cold rolled and heat treated increased from 29.0% to 66.9% along with an 8% increase of the tensile strength.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.561-571
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• 1999

Microstructure and mechanical properties of five Cr-Mo steels for nuclear industry applications have been investigated. Transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer, differential scanning calorimeter, hardness, tensile, and impact test were used to evaluate the Cr and W effect on the microstructure and mechanical properties. Microstructures of Cr-Mo steels after tempering are classified into three types : bainitic 2.25Cr-lMo steel, martensitic Mod.9Cr-lMo, HT9M, and HT9W steels, and dual phase HT9 steel. The majority of the precipitates were found to be M$_{23}$C$_{6}$ carbides. As minor phases, fine needle-like V(C,N), spherical NbC, fine needle-like Cr-rich Cr$_2$N, and Cr-rich M$_{7}$C$_3$were also found. Addition of 2wt.% W in Cr-Mo steels retarded the formation of subgrain and dissolution of Cr$_2$N precipitates. Hardness and ultimate tensile strength increased with increasing Cr content. Though Cr content of HT9W steel was lower than that of HT9 steel, the hardness of HT9W was higher due to the higher W content. W added HT9W steel had the highest ultimate tensile strength above $600^{\circ}C$. But impact toughness of W added steel (HT9W) and high Cr steel (HT9) was low.w.w.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 2000

Si3N4/SiC nanocomposite ceramics containing 5 wt%dispersed SiC particles were prepared by gas-pressure-sintering at 200$0^{\circ}C$ under nitrogen atmosphere. SiC particles with average sizes of 0.2 and 0.5${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ were used, and the effect of the SiC particle size on the microstructure was investigated. The addition of SiC particles effectively suppressed the growth of the Si3N4 matrix grains. The effect of grain growth inhibition was higher in the nanocomposites dispersed with fine SiC. SiC particles were dispersed uniformly inside Si3N4 matrix grains and on grain boundaries. When the fine SiC particles were added, large fraction of the SiC particles was trapped inside the grains. On the other hand, when the large SiC particles were added, most of the SiC particles were located on grain boundaries. Typically, the fraction of SiC particles located at grain boundaries was higher in the specimen prepared from $\beta$-Si3N4 than in the specimen prepared from $\alpha$-Si3N4.