• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.57-58
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• 2006

The effects of lowering ECAP temperature during ECAP process and Post-ECAP annealing on microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of the AZ31 alloys have been investigated in the present study. The as-extruded materials were ECAP processed to 2 passes at 553K prior to subsequent pressing up to 6 passes at 523K or 493K. When this method of lowering ECAP temperature during ECAP was used, the rods could be successfully deformed up to 6 passes without any surface cracking. Grain refinement during ECAP process at 553K might have helped the material to endure further straining at lower deformation temperatures probably by increasing the strain accommodation effect by grain boundary sliding, causing stress relaxation. Texture modification during ECAP has a great influence on the strength of Mg alloys because HCP metals have limited number of slip systems. As slip is most prone to take place on basal planes in Mg at room temperature, the rotation of high fraction of basal planes to the directions favorable for slip as in ECAP decreases the yield stress appreciably. The strength of AZ31 Mg alloys increases with decrease of grain size if the texture is constant though ECAP deformation history is different. A standard positive strength dependence on the grain size for Mg alloys with the similar texture (Fig. 1) supports that the softening of ECAPed Mg alloys (a negative slope) typically observed despite the significant grain refinement is due to the texture modification where the rotation of basal planes occurs towards the orientation for easier slip. It could be predicted that if the original fiber texture is restored after ECAP treatment yielding marked grain refinement, yield stress as high as 500 MPa will be obtained at the grain size of ${\sim}1{\mu}m$. Differential speed rolling (DSR) with a high speed ratio between the upper and lower rolls was applied to alter the microstructure and texture of the AZ31 sheets. Significant grain refinement took place during the rolling owing to introduction of large shear deformation. Grain size as small as $1.4{\mu}m$ could be obtained at 423K after DSR. There was a good correlation between the (0002) pole intensity and tensile elongation. This result indicates that tensile ductility improvement in the asymmetrically rolled AZ31 Mg alloys is closely related to the weakening of basal texture during DSR. Further basal texture weakening occurred during annealing after DSR. According to Hall-Petch relation shown in Fig. 1, the strength of the asymmetrically rolled AZ31 is lower than that of the symmetrically rolled one when compared at the same grain size. This result was attributed to weakening of fiber texture during DSR. The DSRed AZ31, however, shows higher strength than the ECAPed AZ31 where texture has been completely replaced by a new texture associated with high Schmid factors.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 1981

A study has been performed on the effect of TMT(thermomechanical treatment) on the mechanical properties of steel and aluminum alloys. Improvement of the mechanical properties on steel by HTMT is due to refinement of prior austenite grain size, martensite lath size and the distribution of fine carbide precipitates and on aluminum alloy by ITMT is due to grain size refinement, homogeneous distribution of small second phase particles and retardation of the recrystallization.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.111-114
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• 2010

The effects of grain refinement and melt stirring on the mechanical properties and fluidity of AZ91D and AM50 alloys were investigated. The average grain sizes of those alloys were reduced by the micro-addition of strontium. The tensile properties and fluidity were increased by this treatment. Those were reduced remarkably by the melt stirring.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.389-394
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• 2000

The studies on gram size refinement for rheocast processing of hypereutectic Al-18%Si alloys have been investigated in the present study. To increase the efficiency of mechanical stirring, sieve type stirrer are newly designed and implemented for rheocasting of hypereutectic Al-18%Si alloy. Mechanical stirring of semi-solid slurry by using sieve type mechanical stirrer results in morphological changes of the primary Si particles, from angular rod shape to near spherical shape and uniform distribution of proeutectic Si. The remarkable spheroidization of Primary Si Particles and distributional uniformity of proeutectic Si show well the efficiency of sieve type mechanical stirring method which can accelerate the coalescence-fracture-wear of the individual particles by strong turbulent flow between lattices during rotation of sieve type stirrer.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.34-43
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• 1991

A small amount of misch metal and/or Zr was added as a dopant to 70.5wt----Cu-26wt----Zn-3.5wt----Al shape memory alloy in order to study the effect of grain refinement and heat treatments on the transformation behavior, stabilization of martensite, and shape memory ability. It was found that the addition of misch metal and Zr was very effective for reducing the grain size. The fracture mode has been changed from intergranular brittle fracture to ductile fracture with void formation and coalescence by the addition of misch metal and Zr. Aging of the ${\beta}$-phase decreases the $M_s$ temperature, but that of the martensite phase increases the $A_s$ temperature. The hysteresis of transformation temperature ${\Delta}T(A_s-M_s)$ has an increasing tendancy by grain refinement. The crystal structure of martensite was identified as monoclinic structure. As the grain size decreased, martensite stabilization more easily occured and the shape, memory ability has been reduced by the grain size refined.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.313-324
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• 2015

Austenitic stainless steels have been widely used in many engineering fields because of their high corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties. However, welding or aging treatment may induce intergranular corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, pitting, etc. Since these types of corrosion are closely related to the formation of chromium carbide in grain boundaries, the alloys are controlled using methods such as lowering the carbon content, solution heat treatment, alloying of stabilization elements, and grain boundary engineering. This work focused on the effects of aging and UNSM (Ultrasonic Nano-crystal Surface Modification) on the intergranular corrosion of commercial 316L stainless steel and the results are discussed on the basis of the sensitization by chromium carbide formation and carbon segregation, residual stress, grain refinement, and grain boundary engineering.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.395-399
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• 2000

The main interdendritic phase which was formed during early solidification of the ternary Mg-Zn-Ca alloys is the $Ca_2Mg_6Zn_3$ phase. The microstructure of $Mg-6wt%Zn-0.1{\sim}0.3wt%Ca$ alloys consisted of MgZn precipitates and $Ca_2Mg_6Zn_3$ phase formed around the grain boundaries. In the alloys with the highest level of Ca($Mg-6wt%Zn-0.5{\sim}0.7wt%aCa$ alloys), the microstructure revealed wholly $Ca_2Mg_6Zn_3$ phase formed around the grain boundaries. The grain size of Mg-6wt%Zn-Ca alloys decreased significantly with increase in Ca content and, at 0.5wt% Ca or more, grain size becomes constant at about 60 ${\mu}m$. The tensile properties of the as-cast Mg-6wt%Zn-Ca magnesium alloys were improved due to grain refinement by addition of Ca.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2004

Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) technique had been adapted to the Mg alloy (AZ31) for achieving effective grain refinement through severe deformation. The average grain size of $2.5{\mu}m$ could be obtained after 4 passes. The stability of the ECAPed structure at elevated temperatures was examined by annealing the ECAPed materials over a wide range of temperature between 473 and 748 K. The average activation energy, Q, for static grain growth of 1, 2 and 3 passes was 33.7 kJ/mole (=0.25QL, activation for lattice diffusion). The abnormally low Q value in the lower temperature range may indicate that grain growth occurs in the unrecrystallized microstructure where non-equilibrium grain boundaries containing a large number of extrinsic dislocations exist. The yield stresses of the ECAPed alloys decreased whereas the elongations increased after the ECAP process. These results should be related to the modification of texture for easier slip on basal plane.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2002

For application of cast-forging process with Al-Si alloys, casting experiments are carried out by adding Sr and TiB to Al-Si alloys for grain refinement treatment. We experimented on the mechanical properties according to microstructural changes, forging ability test and also investigated the mechanical properties after forging. The finest microstructure could be observed respectively when 0.05 wt.%Sr and 0.1 wt.%TiB were added. In this case, tensile strength and elongation increased much more than as casting. After high temperature deformation simulation test with grain refinement specimens was carried out, about 60N per unit $area(mm^2)$ of specimen was confirmed. After hot forging, tensile strength and elongation were increased. It was considered that casting defect was removed by compressive working.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.251-256
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• 2003

Effects of Ca addition on grain refinement, microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ31 Mg alloy were investigated. Due to Ca addition to Mg alloy (AZ31), the microstructure was refined, the quantity of $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$phase was reduced, and new $Al_2Ca$ phase was formed. The tensile property of AZ31 was increased with the minor addition of Ca, but was decreased rapidly over 0.2 wt.% of Ca content. The $Al_2Ca$ phase was considered to be detrimental to the mechanical property of AZ31 Mg alloy.