• Applied Microscopy
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2015

In the present study, microstructural evolution in CuCrFeNi, CuCrFeNiMn, and CuCrFeNiMnAl alloys has been investigated. The as-cast CuCrFeNi alloy consists of a single fcc phase with the lattice parameter of 0.358 nm, while the as-cast CuCrFeNiMn alloy consists of (bcc+fcc1+fcc2) phases with lattice parameters of 0.287 nm, 0.366 nm, and 0.361 nm. The heat treatment of the cast CuCrFeNiMn alloy results in the different type of microstructure depending on the heat treatment temperature. At $900^{\circ}C$ a new thermodynamically stable phase appears instead of the bcc solid solution phase, while at $1,000^{\circ}C$, the heat treated microstructure is almost same as that in the as-cast state. The addition of Al in CuCrFeNiMn alloy changes the constituent phases from (fcc1+fcc2+bcc) to (bcc1+bcc2).

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.317-321
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• 2012

In this study, Cu-5Ni-10Sn(wt%) spinodal alloy was manufactured by gas atomization spray forming, and the microstructural features and mechanical properties of Cu-5Ni-10Sn alloy have been investigated during homogenization, cold working and age-hardening. The spray formed Cu-5Ni-10Sn alloy consisted of an equiaxed microstructure with a mixture of solid solution ${\alpha}$-(CuNiSn) grains and lamellar-structure grains. Homogenization at $800^{\circ}C$ and subsequent rapid quenching formed a uniform solid solution ${\alpha}$-(CuNiSn) phase. Direct aging at $350^{\circ}C$ from the homogenized Cu-5Ni-10Sn alloy promoted the precipitation of finely distributed ${\gamma}$' or ${\gamma}-(Cu,Ni)_3Sn$ phase throughout the matrix, resulting in a significant increase in microhardness and tensile strength. Cold working prior to aging was effective in strengthening Cu-5Ni-10Sn alloy, which gave rise to a maximum tensile strength of 1165 MPa. Subsequent aging treatment slightly reduced the tensile strength to 1000-1100 MPa due to annealing effects.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.392-397
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• 2000

The effect of pressure on the phase transformation in Fe-30Ni-0.35C Alloy and pure metals was investigated by using PDSC(pressure differential scanning calorimeter). As the pressure increased from 1 atm to 60 atm, the $A_s$points of the ausformed martensite and the marformed martensite in Fe-30Ni-0.35C Alloy were lowered about $2~4^{\circ}C$ at reverse transformation. This is why the volume change came down at phase transition(from martensite to autenite). As the pressure increased from 1 atm to 60 atm, $A_f$ points were constant or slightly increased. This is due to the promotion of carbide precipitation with increasing pressure. The enthalpy change of the ausformed martensite in Fe-30Ni-0.35C Alloy was increased by 10~14J/g. The melting points of the pure metals, Se, Sn, Pb, Zn and Te were slightly increased with increasing pressure. The enthalpy changes of the pure metals at melting were little changed or slightly increased with increasing pressure.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.135-141
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• 1998

The effects of heat-treatment on discharge characteristics of $TiFe_{1-x}Ni_x$ alloy were investigated. The content of Ni in alloy was varied from x = 0.1 to 0.6 by each 0.1 increment. Discharge capacity change of each alloy with C/D cycles was measured. With increasing Ni-content initial discharge capacity was increased. but at x = 0.6 it was deceased again. With increasing C/D cycles discharge capacity was rapidly decreased in the alloy of high Ni-content. In order to investigate the effects of heat-treatment on cycle life, $TiFe_{0.5}Ni_{0.5}$ alloy having maximum initial discharge capacity was heat-treated at various temperatures in the range of $700{\sim}900^{\circ}C$ and tested. The loss of initial discharge capacity was appeared at all temperatures. but cycle characteristics of the alloy was improved. The electrodes heat-treated for 1 hour in the range of $700{\sim}850^{\circ}C$ showed good recovery of discharge capacities through repeated cycles, and from SEM observation results these were considered as 1 hour in the range of $700{\sim}850^{\circ}C$ showed good recovery of discharge capacities through repeated cycles, and from SEM observation results these were considered asbeing due to increased electrode strength and small loss of porosity during heat-treatment. The electrode heat-treated for 1 hour at $900^{\circ}C$ showed poor discharge characteristics because of low porosity.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.194-202
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• 2010

Application of a stronger and more durable material for reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) might be an effective way to insure the integrity and increase the efficiency of nuclear power plants. A series of research projects to apply the SA508 Gr.4 steel in ASME code to RPVs are in progress because of its excellent strength and durability compared to commercial RPV steel (SA508 Gr.3 steel). In this study, the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of SA508 Gr.3 Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel and SA508 Gr.4N Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel were investigated. The differences in the stable phases between these two low alloy steels were evaluated by means of a thermodynamic calculation using ThermoCalc. They were then compared to microstructural features and correlated with mechanical properties. Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel shows the upper bainite structure that has coarse cementite in the lath boundaries. However, Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel shows the mixture of lower bainite and tempered martensite structure that homogeneously precipitates the small carbides such as $M_{23}C_6$ and $M_7C_3$ due to an increase of hardenability and Cr addition. In the mechanical properties, Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel has higher strength and toughness than Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel. Ni and Cr additions increase the strength by solid solution hardening. In addition, microstructural changes from upper bainite to tempered martensite improve the strength of the low alloy steel by grain refining effect, and the changes in the precipitation behavior by Cr addition improve the ductile-brittle transition behavior along with a toughening effect of Ni addition.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.771-779
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• 2008

An effective way of increasing the strength and fracture toughness of reactor pressure vessel steels is to change the material specification from that of Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel(SA508 Gr.3) to Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel(SA508 Gr.4N). In this study, we evaluate the effects of alloying elements on the microstructural characteristics of Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel. The changes in the stable phase of the SA508 Gr.4N low alloy steel with alloying elements were evaluated by means of a thermodynamic calculation conducted with the software ThermoCalc. The changes were then compared with the observed microstructural results. The calculation of Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steels confirms that the ferrite formation temperature decreases as the Ni content increases because of the austenite stabilization effect. Consequently, in the microscopic observation, the lath martensitic structure becomes finer as the Ni content increases. However, Ni does not affect the carbide phases such as $M_{23}C_6 $ and $M_7C_3$. When the Cr content decreases, the carbide phases become unstable and carbide coarsening can be observed. With an increase in the Mo content, the $M_2C$ phase becomes stable instead of the $M_7C_3$ phase. This behavior is also observed in TEM. From the calculation results and the observation results of the microstructure, the thermodynamic calculation can be used to predict the precipitation behavior.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.455-460
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• 2003

Microstructural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe-46 wt%Ni and Fe-36 wt%Ni alloys were investigated. Alloys were prepared by the electrodeposition process. The electrolytes were iron sulfate/nickel chloride-based and iron chloride/nickel sulfamate-based solutions. Fe-46 wt%Ni alloy was FCC structure with grain size of 10 nm, but FCC and BCC phases were found in Fe-36 wt%Ni alloy and its grain size was smaller. Effective permeability of Fe-36 wt%Ni alloy was higher than that of Fe-46 wt%Ni alloy in the high frequency range because of large electrical resistivity and small eddy current loss resulted from grain size decrease. Up to $300^{\circ}C$ of annealing temperature, grain growth of Fe-Ni alloys slowly occured. Conversely, annealing above $450^{\circ}C$ led to a drastic grain growth. In that case, effective permeability was decreased at the temperature lower than $300^{\circ}C$ but at $300^{\circ}C$ or higher effective permeability was increased. At the high frequency of 1 MHz, electrodeposited Fe-Ni alloys had higher effective permeability with an decrease in the grain size.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.8 no.8
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• pp.685-692
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• 1998

Since a wet-seal area of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) operated at $650^{\circ}C$ is exposed to severe environment, a life-time of MCFC is influenced by the corrosion resistance of separator. In order to improve corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel used as separator material, AI- base alloy such as NiAI has been widely used as coat¬ing material on the wet-seal area. The purpose of this work is to develope a more protective coating material by adding yttrium on NiAI alloy. An immersion test and a polarization test were performed in molten carbonate salt at $650^{\circ}C$ to estimate corrosion resistance of the NiAI alloy and the NiAl/Y alloys with up to L5at% yttrium. NiAl/Y alloys showed better corrosion resistance than NiAI alloy. We found that more than 0.7 at% yttrium was required to improve the corrosion resistance of NiAI alloy in molten carbonate salt at $650^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.3-7
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• 2009

Variation in oxidation behavior with heat treatment temperature is investigated for a Ni-Ti alloy using X-ray diffraction, DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and Auger electron spectroscopy. And the effect of oxidation on transformation behavior and superelasticity is characterized. A cold-worked 50.6Ni-Ti alloy is oxidized at 300-$700^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr in the air atmosphere. With an increase in heating temperature, the structure of $TiO_2$ changes from amorphous (300 and $400^{\circ}C$) to anatase ($500^{\circ}C$), and to rutile ($700^{\circ}C$). Activation energy of oxidation for NiTi is measured to be 51 Kcal/mol when heating temperature is $500^{\circ}C$ or above. Since Ti reacts preferably with oxygen, Ni content increases between matrix and oxide, forming $Ni_{3}Ti$ compounds. The resultant of oxidation decreases significantly $M_s$ and $A_s$ temperature in the specimen oxidized at $900^{\circ}C$ with $B_2{\rightarrow}M$ transformation path. An extra is found on cooling between two peaks in the specimen with $B_2{\rightarrow}R{\rightarrow}M$ one which is oxidized at $900^{\circ}C$ and aged at $500^{\circ}C$. Oxidation deteriorates superelasticity due to formation of Ni-rich compound.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.13 no.3 s.56
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• pp.178-186
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• 2006

The effect of use of $H_2O$ as PCA(process control agent) to prevent the carbon contamination during mechanical alloying process and the precipitation behavior in Ni-20Cr-20Fe-5Nb bulk alloy after aging were investigated. NbC and $Cr_2O_3$ were formed during mechanical alloying and consolidation processes in the Ni-20Cr-20Fe-5Nb alloy in which methanol($CH_3OH$) was added as PCA. Formation of NbC in this alloy decreased the amount of Nb dissolved in the Ni matrix. The use of $H_2O$ as PCA in Ni-20Cr-20Fe-5Nb alloy prevented the formation of NbC and increased the hardness. The increase of hardness in this alloy was attributed to the increased amount of Nb dissolved in the Ni matrix. After aging treatment for 20 hours at $600^{\circ}C\;and\;720^{\circ}C$ of Ni-20Cr-20Fe-5Nb bulk alloy in which $H_2O$ added as PCA, ${\gamma}"$$(Ni_3Nb,\;tetragonal)\;and\;{\delta}\;(Ni_3Nb,\;orthorhombic)$ precipitates were formed, respectively. The precipitation temperatures of ${\gamma}"$ and ${\delta}$ in this bulk alloy were lower than those in commercial IN 718 alloy. It seemed that the lower precipitation temperatures for ${\gamma}"$ and ${\delta}$ in this bulk alloy than in commercial IN 718 alloy were due to severe plastic deformation during mechanical alloying.