• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.332-338
• /
• 2023

Thermite welding is an exceptional process that does not require additional energy supplies, resulting in welded joints that exhibit mechanical properties and conductivity equivalent to those of the parent materials. The global adoption of thermite welding is growing across various industries. However, in Korea, limited research is being conducted on the core technology of thermite welding. Currently, domestic production of thermite powder in Korea involves recycling copper oxide (CuO). Unfortunately, controlling the particle size of waste CuO poses challenges, leading to the unwanted formation of pores and cracks during thermite welding. In this study, we investigate the influence of powder particle size on thermite welding in the production of Cu-thermite powder using waste CuO. We conduct the ball milling process for 0.5-24 h using recycled CuO. The evolution of the powder shape and size is analyzed using particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, we examine the thermal reaction characteristics through differential scanning calorimetry. Additionally, the microstructures of the welded samples are observed using optical microscopy and SEM to evaluate the impact of powder particle size on weldability. Lastly, hardness measurements are performed to assess the strengths of the welded materials.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.40-45
• /
• 2012

Nowadays in Republic of Korea, whole amount of the thermite welding powder for rail joinning is dependent on import. However the demand of the thermite welding powder would be enlarge because some constructing high-speed train and city metro projects are currently in progress. In addition this is the main reason why we should develop the thermite welding powder, domestically. This study is focused on utilizing the recyclable materials like Al powders from cans and iron oxide scales from wire rods as the main components of the thermite welding powder. By minimizing Al content in weld zone by controlling the mixing ratio of the Al powder in the thermite welding powder, the excessive dissolution of the Si and Mn components came from the Al powders could be controled. The tensile strength of welding zone in welded rail was 740 MPa, with that the developed thermite welding powder.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.33-39
• /
• 2023

In this study, the effect of mixing condition of raw material powders possessing various particle size and particle size distribution on thermite reaction efficiency was investigated. When fine raw powders are used, rather the reaction yield tends to decrease due to agglomeration. In contrast, coarse raw powders make deteriorate the contact area between raw material powders containing Al reducing agent. To ensure the optimal thermite reaction efficiency, it is required to optimize a mixture condition of raw material powders prior to thermite reaction. From the current experiment, the maximum thermite reaction efficiency is 77%, which came from Nb₂O₅ + NiO +Al mixtures with size distribution from 9.25 to 22.63 ㎛.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2011.10a
• /
• pp.2101-2106
• /
• 2011

It is reported that about more than 45% of damage shown in railroad rails include breakage of rail end which cross the center of Thermit welded zone. Thermite welding is always accompanied by numerous aluminum oxide and secondary inclusions, which may have a negative influence on the ductility and toughness of the weld metal. In this study the aluminum powder recycled by waste aluminum can was used for iron oxide generated after the process of welding rod and the remain aluminum was reduced by minimizing the quantity of aluminum. And complete dissolution was induced by using ferro Mn powder as the additive element. This study reviewed the applicability of heat treatment in the welded zone of rail using ceramic heating pad by carrying it out. This study could observe the improvement of the mechanical characteristics (UTS and elongation) and the changes of failure mechanism from brittleness to ductility. It could be found that improved strength and elongation result from pearilte fine structure.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.135-139
• /
• 2011

In order to make high-purity ferro-manganese from $Mn_3O_4$ waste dust, the application of aluminothermite process to the reduction of the waste dust was investigated. The mixture from $Mn_3O_4$ dust as metallic source and Al metal powder as the reductant ignited, and reduced with an extremely intense exothermic reaction. The rapid propagation of the aluminothermite reaction occurred spontaneously and stably by ignition of the mixture. The Manganese having some alloy elements emerged as liquids due to the high temperatures reached up to about $2,500^{\circ}C$ and separated from the liquid by their differences of specific gravity. The result of thermite reaction showed the fact that can be obtained high purity ferro-manganese which have over about 90% of manganese content and lower impurities such as C, P, S than those of KS D3712 specification. The recovery of manganese from $Mn_3O_4$ dust was lower level of about 65% than about 75% from manganese ore by electric furnace process, that is due to spatter loss because of its extremely intense thermite reaction. But it will be improved by the process designed to provide CaO as the cooler or to use the Al metal powder having larger particle size distribution.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.220-224
• /
• 2019

The aluminum (Al)/copper oxide (CuO) complex is known as the most promising material for thermite reactions, releasing a high heat and pressure through ignition or thermal heating. To improve the reaction rate and wettability for handling safety, nanosized primary particles are applied on Al/CuO composite for energetic materials in explosives or propellants. Herein, graphene oxide (GO) is adopted for the Al/CuO composites as the functional supporting materials, preventing a phase-separation between solvent and composites, leading to a significantly enhanced reactivity. The characterizations of Al/CuO decorated on GO(Al/CuO/GO) are performed through scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping analysis. Moreover, the functional bridging between Al/CuO and GO is suggested by identifying the chemical bonding with GO in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The reactivity of Al/CuO/GO composites is evaluated by comparing the maximum pressure and rate of the pressure increase of Al/CuO and Al/CuO/GO. The composites with a specific concentration of GO (10 wt%) demonstrate a well-dispersed mixture in hexane solution without phase separation.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.21-27
• /
• 2012

In order to make high-purity ferro-manganese from $Mn_3O_4$ dust, the application of aluminothermy process to the reduction of $Mn_3O_4$ dust was investigated in previous work. The result showed the fact that can be obtained high purity ferro-manganese which have over about 93% of manganese content and lower impurities such as C, P, S than those of KS D3712 specification. The addition of silicon powder instead of aluminum powder was investigated as reductant in the thermite reaction process of $Mn_3O_4$ dust in this work because its production cost is lower than that of aluminum powder. In case of addition of silicon powder only as reductant, the experimental result showed the unstable ignition and no thermite reaction of mixture, but in case of simultaneous addition of silicon and aluminum powders as reductant, showed the fact that can be obtained high purity ferro-manganese which have much low content of impurities such as C, P, S component.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.11-16
• /
• 1995

High reaction heat evolved from the oxidation of Al was used to synthesize SiC, which might be difficult to be formed by SHS. Al2O3-SiC composite powder was easily manufactured using KNO3 as an ignition and reaction catalyst. Unreacted Si and C were observed after reaction dependent upon the composition of starting powders, reaction atmosphere and relative densities of compacted bodies. The unreacted carbon could be removed by calcining at $600^{\circ}C$ and the remaining Si could be removed by dissolving in NaOH solution. The final powder particles were smaller than 1${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in size.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.71-77
• /
• 2013

Aluminium powder as reductant in aluminothermy process needs a fine particle size under 200 mesh, but it is not easy economically to make that because of its high ductility and powder production cost. In order to reduce the production cost of fine aluminum powder as reductant of $Mn_3O_4$ waste dust, therefore, the properties of aluminium alloy powder were investigated. Aluminium alloy ingot containing large amount of manganese can be crushed easily because of its intermetallic compounds having brittle properties. The manganese is also main element in ferro-manganese. We can obtain economically Al-15%Mn alloy powder by mechanical comminution process. And the result of thermite reaction using Al-15% Mn alloy powder instead of pure Al powder showed the fact that can be obtained the ferro-manganese which have a high purity in case of using pure aluminium powder as reductant. The recovery of manganese from $Mn_3O_4$ waste dust with Al-15%Mn alloy powder was higher level of about 70% than about 65% in case of using aluminium powder, that is due to lower spatter loss.