• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.1619-1625
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• 2021

This paper demonstrates the possible nondestructive analysis of iron artifacts' metallurgical characteristics using neutron imaging. Ancient kingdoms of the Korean Peninsula used a direct smelting process for ore smelting and iron bloom production; however, the use of iron blooms was difficult because of their low strength and purity. For reinforcement, iron ingots were produced through refining and forge welding, which then underwent various processes to create different iron goods. To demonstrate the potential analysis using neutron imaging, while ensuring artifacts' safety, a sand iron ingot (SI-I) produced using ancient traditional iron making techniques and a sand iron knife (SI-K) made of SI-I were selected. SI-I was cut into 9 cm², whereas the entirety of SI-K was preserved for analysis. SI-I was found to have an average grain size of 3 ㎛, with observed α-Fe (ferrite) and pearlite with a body-centered cubic (BCC) lattice structure. SI-K had a grain size of 1-3 ㎛, α-Ferrite on its backside, and martensite with a body-centered tetragonal (BCT) structure on its blade. Results show that the sample's metallurgical characteristics can be identified through neutron imaging only, without losing any part of the valuable artifacts, indicating applicability to cultural artifacts requiring complete preservation.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.433-442
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• 2018

In this study, metal properties were compared by preparingthree iron knives from steel ingots produced via traditional iron-making, and ingot which jointed the steel of modern times. Metal microscope and SEM-EDS analysis revealed fine ferrite and pearlite structures of the hypo-eutectoid steel of Fe-C alloys. All samples also exhibited martensite on the blade of the knife. By Vicker's hardness analysis, the hardness of the sand iron knife (K1) was 533.38 HV, sand iron-nickel steel knife (K3) was 514.8 HV, and sand iron-carbon steel knife (K2) was 477.02 HV. The mass reduction due to wear was 0.058% for K1, 0.059% for K3, and 0.144% for K2. EPMA(Electron probe micro-analyzer) analysis of the surface pattern of the specimens confirmed that the patterns were exposed due to differences in the content of C or the chemical composition. Additional research on heat treatment processes is needed to increase the abrasion resistance of blades. Traditional steel ingots could produce high-quality steel if combined with nickel steel.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.631-640
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to compare analytical results of sand iron bars reproduced by the traditional iron-making method through a destructive analysis and a non-destructive analysis. For these studies, we produced two types of samples. One was sample(SI-A), a part of the sand iron bar for destructive analysis. The other was SI-B(9 ㎠) for non-destructive analysis. A metallurgical microscope and scanning electron microscope were used for the destructive analysis, and neutron imaging analysis with the Hokkaido University Neutron Source (HUNS) at Hokkaido University, Japan, was used for the non-destructive analysis. The results obtained by destructive analysis showed that there was ferrite and pearlite of fine crystallite size, and some of these showed Widmanstätten ferrite microstructure grown within the pearlite and coarse ferrite at the edge of the specimen. The results from the neutron imaging analysis showed that there was also ferrite and pearlite with 3 ㎛ α-Fe of BCC structure. Based on these results, neutron imaging analysis is capable of identifying material characteristics without destroying the object and obtaining optimal research results when applying it to objects of cultural heritage.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.195-202
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• 2005

In this study, we investigated the effect of Sb/RE on the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast heavy sectioned, over 250mm thickness, ferritic ductile cast iron. Exothermic and thermal insulation material were equipped on the wall of sand cast mold having the dimensions of $250{\times}250{\times}250$ mm. The nominal composition of the molten metal was controlled to be on the eutectic composition and Sb was added about 0, 0.005 and 0.02% respectively. In the center of as-cast ingot without Sb addition, the solidification of chunky graphite was induced by the eutectic reaction that took long time, which caused the decrease of elongation and impact energy. In case that the value of Sb/RE is 0.8, the solidification of chunky graphite could be suppressed and the improvement of nodularity was observed. On the other hand, the excessive addition of Sb suppressed the solidification of chunky graphite but gave rise to the solidification of flake graphite and the increase of pearlite contents. This results in poor elongation and impact energy which is lower than those in the case of no Sb addition.