• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.475-480
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• 2015

Ultrasonic atomic force microscopy (Ultrasonic-AFM) has been used to investigate the elastic property of the ultra-thin coating layer in a thin-film system. The modified Hertzian theory was applied to predict the contact resonance frequency through accurate theoretical analysis of the dynamic characteristics of the cantilever. We coat 200 nm thick Aluminum and Titanium thin films on the substrate using the DC Magnetron sputtering method. The amplitude and phase of the contact resonance frequency of a vibrating cantilever varies in response to the local stiffness constant. Ultrasonic-AFM images were obtained using the variations in the elastic property of the materials. The morphology of the surface was clearly observed in the Ultrasonic-AFM images, but was barely visible in the topography. This research demonstrates that Ultrasonic-AFM is a promising technique for visualizing the distribution of local stiffness in the nano-scale thin coatings.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.293-298
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• 2009

The ultrasonic atomic force microscope(UAFM) has been developed in order to enhance the characterization technology for nano-scale surface combining ultrasonic property to atomic force microscope. This UAFM technique enables elasticity imaging due to the physical properties on the heterogeneous surface in addition to the novel topography of surface height in the nano-surface layer. In this study, the prototype UAFM system was constructed and applied to several materials, silicon deposited wafer, spherodized cold heading steel, and carbon fiber reinforced plastic specimen. Clear elastic contrast was successfully obtained using this developed prototype UAFM.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.478-484
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• 2014

Ultrasonic atomic force microscopy(Ultrasonic-AFM) can be used to obtain images of the elastic properties of a subsurface and to evaluate the elastic properties by measuring the contact resonance frequency. When a tip is in contact with the sample, it is necessary to understand the cantilever behavior and the tip-sample interaction for the quantitative and reliable analysis. Therefore, precise analysis models that can accurately simulate the tip-sample contact are required; these can serve as good references for predicting the contact resonance frequency. In this study, modal analyses of the first four modes were performed to calculate the contact resonance frequency by using a spring model, and the deformed shapes of the cantilever were visualized at each mode. We presented the contact characteristics of the cantilever with a variety of contact conditions by applying the contact area, contact material thickness, and material properties as the parameters for the FEM analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.148-153
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• 2013

This study demonstrates a novel hybrid surface polishing process combining non-traditional electrochemical polishing(ECP) with external artificial ultrasonic vibration. ECP, typical noncontact surface polishing process, has been used to improve surface quality without leaving any mechanical scratch marks formed by previous mechanical processes, which can polish work material by electrochemical dissolution between two electrodes surfaces. This research suggests vibration electrochemical polishing(VECP) assisted by ultrasonic vibration for enhancing electrochemical reaction and surface quality compared to the conventional ECP. The localized roughness of work material is measured by atomic force microscopy(AFM) for detailed information on surface. Besides roughness, overall surface quality, material removal rate(MRR), and productivity etc. are compared with conventional ECP.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 2010

Vibro-contact of cantilever tip is studied with respect to contact mechanics and an elastic characteristic of nanoscale surface is imaged. The contact resonance frequency is calculated theoretically using the spring-mass and Herzian models, and the variation of resonance frequency of cantilever was analyzed when the cantilever was free and contact. The elasticity imaging was also achieved successfully using phase and amplitude signals obtained from the spheroidized steel specimens by prototype ultrasonic AFM.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.795-799
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• 2013

This paper describes a novel hybrid surface polishing process combining non-traditional electrochemical polishing (ECP) with external artificial ultrasonic vibration. The purpose of this study is to develop an easier method for improving stainless steel surfaces. To this end, vibration electrochemical polishing (VECP), a novel ultrasonic manufacturing process, for enhancing electrochemical reaction and surface quality compared with that achieved using conventional ECP is suggested. In addition, for finding the optimized experimental conditions, the two methods are compared under various current densities. Localized roughness of the work material is measured with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for obtaining detailed surface information.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2004

Pt-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Pt) films were deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. Resistivity variation with Pt concentration was measured. The Pt distribution in ZnO:Pt films was studied through Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES). The ZnO:Pt films were annealed in the ambient of air, water vapor and ozone, respectively. The variation in crystallographic properties and surface morphologies with respect to the annealing condition was observed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The resistivity variation of the films with the annealing condition was measured. Finally, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurements were carried out to study the effects of the annealing on the roughness of ZnO:Pt films.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.142-148
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• 2012

This study presents the assessment results of adhesive properties on the interface between a silicon wafer and nano-scale polymer thin film pattern through UAFM images by using the contact resonance frequency of the cantilever. For the experiment, we varied surface treatment processes for the silicon wafer and fabricated a 300nm polymer thin film pattern through lithography. Images from the optical microscope were used to compare the produced test specimens for adhesive condition and the critical load value from the nano scratch test was used to verify the adhesive condition of the nano pattern. Each test specimen resulted in a $1{\mu}m{\times}1{\mu}m$ surface image and subsurface adhesive image. Adhesive condition was evaluated by image contrast differences on the interface according to the changing amplitudes and phases of contact resonance frequency.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.315-323
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• 2021

In general, surface treatments of electroless Ni-P coating are extensively applied in the industry due to their excellent properties for considerable wear resistance, hardness, corrosion resistance. This study aims to determine the effect of ultrasonic conditions on the morphology, alumina content, roughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance of electroless Ni-P-Al₂O₃ composite coatings. The characteristics were analyzed by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), x-ray diffractions (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), etc. In this study, the effect of ultrasonic condition uniformly distributed alumina within Ni-P solution resulting in a smoother surface, lower surface roughness. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance behavior of the coating was analyzed using tafel polarization curves in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution at 25 ℃. Under ultrasonic, Al₂O₃ content in Ni-P composite solution increased from 0.5 to 5.0 g/L, Al₂O₃ content at 3.0 g/L was showed a significantly enhanced corrosion resistance. These results suggested that ultrasonic condition was an effective method to improve the properties of the composite coating.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.174-180
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• 2011

Nondestructive surface imaging of elastic characteristic and mechanical property has been studied on nanoscale surface with ultrasonic AFM. Resonance frequency variation of cantilever is theoretically analyzed with respect to contact mechanics as well as experimentally measured. The contact resonance frequency is calculated theoretically using the spring-mass and Herzian model in accordance with the resonance frequency of UAFM cantilever measured experimentally. Consequently, the topography and amplitude images could be obtained successfully and the elastic characteristic at the nanoscale surface was evaluated qualitatively by amplitude signals.