• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.15 no.5 s.86
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• pp.360-365
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• 2006

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been the subject of intensive studies for applications in the fields of nano technologies in recent years due to their superior mechanical, electric, optical and electronic properties. Because of their exceptionally small diameters (${\appros}\;several\;nm$) as well as their high Young's modulus (${\appros}1\;TPa$), tensile strength (${\appros}\;200\;GPa$) and high elongation (10-30%) in addition to a high chemical stability, CNTs are attractive reinforcement materials for light weight and high strength metal matrix composites. Although extensive researches have been performed on the electrical, mechanical and functional properties of CNTs, there are not many successful results on the mechanical properties of CNT dispersed nanocomposites. In this paper, we applied equal channel angular pressing for consolidation of CNT/Cu powder mixtures. We also investigated the hardness and microstructures of CNT/Cu nanocomposites used experimental for metal matrix composites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.61-61
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• 2010

In the present work, we present the optimized the hybrid structures of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and metal nanocomposites including Cu, Al, Co and Ni using the first principle calculations based on the density functional theory. Introduction of CNTs into a metal matrix has been considered to improve the mechanical properties of the metal matrix. However, the binding energy between metals and pristine CNTs wall is known to be so small that the interfacial slip between CNTs and the matrix occurs at a relatively low external stress. The application of defective or functionalized CNTs has thus attracted great attention to enhance the interfacial strength of CNT/metal nanocomposites. Herein, we design the various hybrid structures of the single wall CNT/metal complexes and characterize the interaction between single wall CNTs and various metals such as Cu, Al, Co or Ni. First, differences in the binding energies or electronic structures of the CNT/metal complexes with the topological defects, such as the Stone-Wales and vacancy, are compared. Second, the characteristics of functionalized CNTs with various surface functional groups, such as -O, -COOH, -OH interacting with metals are investigated.We found that the binding energy can be enhanced by the surface functional group including oxygen since the oxygen atom can mediate and reinforce the interaction between carbon and metal. The binding energy is also greatly increased when it is absorbed on the defects of CNTs. These results strongly support the recent experimental work which suggested the oxygen on the interface playing an important role in the excellent mechanical properties of the CNT-Cu composite[1].

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.6-6
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• 1996

Ceramic based nanocomposite, in which nano-sized ceramics and metals were dispersed within matrix grains and/or at grain boundaries, were successfully fabricated in the ceramic/cerarnic and ceramic/metal composite systems such as $Al_2O_3$/SiC, $Al_2O_3$/$Si_3N_4$, MgO/SiC, mullite/SiC, $Si_3N_4/SiC, $Si_3N_4$/B, $Al_2O_3$/W, $Al_2O_3$/Mo, $Al_2O_3$/Ni and $ZrO_2$/Mo systems. In these systems, the ceramiclceramic composites were fabricated from homogeneously mixed powders, powders with thin coatings of the second phases and amorphous precursor composite powders by usual powder metallurgical methods. The ceramiclmetal nanocomposites were prepared by combination of H2 reduction of metal oxides in the early stage of sinterings and usual powder metallurgical processes. The transmission electron microscopic observation for the $Al_2O_3$/SiC nanocomposite indicated that the second phases less than 70nm were mainly located within matrix grains and the larger particles were dispersed at the grain boundaries. The similar observation was also identified for other cerarnic/ceramic and ceramiclmetal nanocornposites. The striking findings in these nanocomposites were that mechanical properties were significantly improved by the nano-sized dispersion from 5 to 10 vol% even at high temperatures. For example, the improvement in hcture strength by 2 to 5 times and in creep resistance by 2 to 4 orders was observed not only for the ceramidceramic nanocomposites but also for the ceramiclmetal nanocomposites with only 5~01%se cond phase. The newly developed silicon nitride/boron nitride nanocomposites, in which nano-sized hexagonal BN particulates with low Young's modulus and fracture strength were dispersed mainly within matrix grains, gave also the strong improvement in fracture strength and thermal shock fracture resistance. In presentation, the process-rnicro/nanostructure-properties relationship will be presented in detail. The special emphasis will be placed on the understanding of the roles of nano-sized dispersions on mechanical properties.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.407-416
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• 2022

In this study, the gravitating mechanical stir casting method was used to fabricating the Nb₂O₅/AZ31 magnesium matrix nanocomposites. Niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅) used as reinforcement with two different weight percentages (3 wt % and 6 wt %). The influence of Nb₂O₅ on microstructure and mechanical properties has been investigated. The microstructure analysis showed that the composites are mainly composed of the primary α-magnesium phase and phase β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂ secondary phase. The secondary phase was dispersed evenly along the grain boundary of the Mg phase. The Nb₂O₅/AZ31 nanocomposites revealed that the grain size and its lamellar shape (β-Mg₁₇Al₁₂) were gradually refined. Different strengthening mechanisms were assessed in terms of their contributions. Results showed that composite material properties of hardness, yield strength, and fracture study were directly related to Nb₂O₅ as a reinforcement. The maximum values of the mechanical properties were achieved with the addition of 3 wt% Nb₂O₅ on the AZ31 alloy.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 2011

PVDF was used as a polymeric matrix material in this work. Nickel powders with average particles size of 200 nm or 72 nm were used as fillers. PVDF/metal submicro- and nanocomposites were prepared by means of a mixing in twin screw extruder and planetary ball mill, respectively. All samples were prepared by hot pressing method. Their electrical, thermal and morphological properties were examined by dielectric spectroscopy, DSC, FTIR, XRD, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that all properties of composites were strongly modified depending on the content of metal powders and filler particles size. Particularly, specific volume resistivity of PVDF/Ni composite with 0.2 wt.% of Ni was increased by factor of 1.5~4.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09b
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• pp.980-981
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• 2006

In this study, bottom-up type powder processing and top-down type SPD (severe plastic deformation) approaches were combined in order to achieve full density of Carbon nanotube (CNT)/metal matrix composites with superior mechanical properties by improved particle bonding and least grain growth, which were considered as a bottle neck of the bottom-up method using the conventional powder metallurgy of compaction and sintering. ECAP (equal channel angular pressing), the most promising method in SPD, was used for the CNT/Cu powder consolidation. The powder ECAP processing with 1, 2, 4 and 8 route C passes was conducted at room temperature.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.1252-1256
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• 2010

A polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/Ag nanocomposites was prepared by the simultaneous thermal reduction and radical polymerization route. The in situ synthesis of the Ag/PVP nanocomposites is based on the finding that the silver n-propylcarbamate (Ag-PCB) complex can be directly dissolved in the NVP monomer, and decomposed by only heat treatment in the range of 110 to $130^{\circ}C$ to form silver metal. Silver nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution (5 - 40 nm) were obtained, which were well dispersed in the PVP matrix. A successful synthesis of Ag/PVP nanocomposites then proceeded upon heat treatment as low as $110^{\circ}C$. Moreover, important advantages of the in situ synthesis of Ag/PVP composites include that no additives (e.g. solvent, surface-active agent, or reductant of metallic ions) are used, and that the stable silver nanocolloid solution can be directly prepared in high concentration simply by dissolving the Ag/PVP nanocomposites in water or organic solvent.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.476-476
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• 2011

Introduction of CNTs into a metal matrix has been considered to improve the mechanical properties of the metal matrix. However, the binding energy between metals and pristine CNTs wall is known to be so small that the interfacial slip between CNTs and the matrix occurs at a relatively low external stress. The interfacial strength between CNT and metal matrix is thus one of the key factors for successful development of the CNT/metal composites. Defective or functionalized CNT has been considered to enhance the interfacial strength of nanocomposites. In the present work, we design the various realistic hybrid structures of the single wall CNT/Cu complexes and characterize the interaction between single wall CNTs and Cu nano-particle and Cu13 cluster using first principle calculations. The characteristics of functionalized CNTs with various surface functional groups, such as -COOH, -OH, and -O interacting with Cu are investigated. We found that the binding energy can be enhanced by the surface functional group including oxygen since the oxygen atom can mediate and reinforce the interaction between carbon and Cu. These results strongly support the recent experimental work which suggested the oxygen on the interface playing an important role in the excellent mechanical properties of the CNT/Cu composite.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.469-477
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• 2016

The application of nanomaterials for electrodes of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) is introduced. In conventional SOFCs, the operating temperature is higher than 1073 K, and so application of nanomaterials is not suitable because of the high degradation rate that results from sintering, aggregation, or reactions. However, by allowing a decrease of the operating temperature, nanomaterials are attracting much interest. In this review, nanocomposite films with columnar morphology, called double columnar or vertically aligned nanocomposites and prepared by pulsed laser ablation method, are introduced. For anodes, metal nano particles prepared by exsolution from perovskite lattice are also applied. By using dissolution and exsolution into and from the perovskite matrix, performed by changing $P_{O2}$ in the gas phase at each interval, recovery of the power density can be achieved by keeping the metal particle size small. Therefore, it is expected that the application of nanomaterials will become more popular in future SOFC development.