• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.265-265
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• 2012

스퍼터링을 이용하여 금속을 코팅하면 대부분 주상정 형태의 미세구조로 성장한다. 금속 코팅층의 미세구조를 코팅공정으로 제어하여 치밀한 구조의 코팅층을 합성하기 위해서 평형(balanced magnetron)과 비평형(unbalanced magnetron) 스퍼터링에 의한 박막 구조 변화를 비교하고, 빗각 증착(oblique angle deposition) 효과가 코팅층의 미세구조에 미치는 영향을 확인하였다. 실험에 사용된 타겟은 6 인치 직경의 알루미늄이었으며 기판은 실리콘 웨이퍼와 냉연강판이 사용되었다. 알루미늄 코팅층은 주사전자현미경으로 미세구조를 관찰하였으며, 미세구조 변화가 내부식 특성에 미치는 영향을 평가하기 위해서 알루미늄이 코팅된 냉연강판의 염수분무 시험을 실시하였다. 빗각 증착에 의한 코팅층 미세구조 변화가 가장 두드러지게 나타났으며, 빗각 증착에 의해서 알루미늄 코팅층이 치밀해지는 현상을 관찰할 수 있었다. 알루미늄이 코팅된 냉연강판을 분석한 결과, 빗각 증착으로 코팅된 알루미늄 코팅층이 두께 약 $3{\mu}m$에서 염수분무 200 시간 후에도 적청이 발생하지 않는 우수한 내식성을 보였다.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.801-808
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• 2012

TiAlCN coatings with various C contents were synthesized by unbalanced magnetron sputtering. The characteristics, the crystalline structure, surface morphology, hardness, and friction coefficient of the coatings as a function of the C content were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), a microhardness tester, and a wear test. In addition, their corrosion behaviors in a deaerated 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at $40^{\circ}C$ were investigated by potentiodynamic polarization tests. The results indicated that the $Ti_{14.9}Al_{15.5}C_{30.7}N_{38.9}$ coating had the highest hardness, elastic modulus, and a plastic deformation resistance of 39 GPa, 359 GPa, and 0.55, respectively, and it also had the lowest friction coefficient of approximately 0.26. Comparative evaluation of the TiAlCN coatings indicated that a wide range of coating properties, especially coating hardness, could be obtained by the synthesis methods and processing variables. The microhardness of the coatings was much higher than that from previously reported coating using similar magnetron sputtering processes. It was almost as high as the microhardness measured from the TiAlCN coatings (~41 GPa) synthesized using an arc ion plating process. The potentiodynamic test showed that the corrosion resistance of the TiAlCN coatings was significantly better than the TiAlN coatings, and their corrosion current density ($i_{corr}$), corrosion potentials ($E_{corr}$) and corrosion rate decreased with an increasing C content in the coatings. The much denser microstructure of the coatings due to the increased amount of amorphous phase with increasing C contents in the coatings could result in the the improved corrosion resistance of the coatings.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.597-609
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• 2020

Accident Tolerant Fuels have been widely studied since the Fukushima-Daiichi accident in 2011 as one of the options on how to further enhance the safety of nuclear power plants. Deposition of protective coatings on nuclear fuel claddings has been considered as a near-term concept that will reduce the high-temperature oxidation rate and enhance accidental tolerance of the cladding while providing additional benefits during normal operation and transients. This study focuses on experimental testing of Zr-based alloys coated with Cr-based coatings using Physical Vapour Deposition. The results of long-term corrosion tests, as well as tests simulating postulated accidents, are presented. Zr-1%Nb alloy used as nuclear fuel cladding serves as a substrate and Cr, CrN, Cr_xN_y layers are deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering and reactive magnetron sputtering. The deposition procedures are optimized in order to improve coating properties. Coated as well as reference uncoated samples were experimentally tested. The presented results include standard long-term corrosion tests at 360℃ in WWER water chemistry, burst (creep) tests and mainly single and double-sided high-temperature steam oxidation tests between 1000 and 1400℃ related to postulated Loss-of-coolant accident and Design extension conditions. Coated and reference samples were characterized pre- and post-testing using mechanical testing (microhardness, ring compression test), Thermal Evolved Gas Analysis analysis (hydrogen, oxygen concentration), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (EDS, WDS, EBSD) and X-ray diffraction.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.706-710
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• 2007

Ti-containing amorphous carbon (a-C:Ti) films shows attractive mechanical properties such as low friction coefficient, good adhesion to various substrate and high wear resistance. The incorporation of titanium in a-C films is able to improve the electrical conductivity, friction coefficient and adhesion to various substrates. In this study, a-C:Ti films were depositied on Si wafer by closed-field unbalanced magnetron (CFUBM) sputtering system composed two targets of carbon and titanium. The tribological properties of a-C:Ti films were investigated with the increase of DC bias voltage from 0 V to - 200 V. The hardness and elastic modulus of films increase with the increase of DC bias voltage and the maximum hardness shows 21 GPa. Also, the coefficient of friction exhibites as low as 0.07 in the ambient. In the result, the a-C:Ti film obtained by CFUBM sputtering method improved the tribological properties with the increase of DC bias volatage.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.465-474
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• 2001

Type 304SS coatings were performed at 200$\square$ onto AISI 1045 carbon steel substrate using unbalanced magnetron sputtering (UBMS) with an austenitic AISI 304 stainless steel (SS) target of 100mm diameter. The total deposition pressure in the active Ar gas was 2$\times$10$^{-3}$ Torr. Coatings were done at various target power densities and bias voltages. Chemical compositions of metallic elements of the coatings were measured by energy dispersive X-rays spectroscopy (EDS). The structure and the morphology of Type 304SS coatings were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Corrosion properties of the coated specimens were examined using electrochemical polarization measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a deaerated 3.5% NaCl solution. The porosity rate was obtained from a comparison of the dc polarization resistance of the uncoated and coated substrates. Scratch adhesion testing was used to compare the critical loads for different coatings. XRD results showed that the sputtered films exhibit a ferritic b.c.c. $\alpha$-phase. Potentiodynamic polarization curves indicated that all samples had much higher corrosion potential and better corrosion resistance than the bare steel substrate. The corrosion performance increased with increasing power density and the adhesion was enhanced at the bias voltage of -50V. An improvement in the corrosion resistance can be obtained with a better coating adhesion. Finally, an optimized deposition condition for corrosion protection was found as $40W/cm^2$ and -50V.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.231.1-231.1
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• 2015

Surface energy, being an important material parameter to control its interactions with the other surfaces plays a key role in bio-related application. Carbon films are found very promising due to their characteristics such as wear and corrosion resistant, high hardness, inert, low resistivity and biocompatibility. The present work deals with the deposition of carbon films using unbalanced facing target magnetron sputtering technique. The discharge characteristics were studied using optical emission spectroscopy and correlated with the film properties. Surface energy was investigated through contact angle measurement. The ID/IG ratio as calculated from Raman spectroscopy data increases with the increase in power density due to the higher number of sp2 clusters embedded in the amorphous matrix. The deposited films were smooth and homogeneous as observed by Atomic force microscopy having RMS roughness in the range of 1.74 to 2.25 nm. It is observed that electrical resistivity and surface energy varies in direct proportionality with operating pressure and has inverse relation with power density. The surface energy results clearly exhibited that these films can have promising applications in cell cultivation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.94-94
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• 2013

The Cr-Zr-N films have much improved mechanical properties and very smooth surface roughness. However, in spite of their outstanding properties, the Cr-Zr-N coatings revealed their mechanical properties deteriorated severely with increasing Zr content at $500^{\circ}C$ ecause of very rapid oxidation. Recently oxynitride films have been widely studied due to their excellent unique mechanical properties and oxidation resistance. In this work, CrZr-O-N films with various O contents were synthesized by unbalanced magnetron sputtering with Cr-Zr segment targets (Cr:Zr volume ratios is 1：1) and all films were prepared in a nitrogen rich mixture of N2 and O2. Characteristics such as crystalline structure, hardness and chemical composition as a function of the O content were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), microhardness testing system and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Results showed that the thin films had dense and compact microstructure as O content in the films increases. The microstructure of the thin films consisted of mainly crystalline Cr (Zr)N phase and Cr2O3 phase. The maximum hardness and elastic modulus of the films was measured to be approximately 33.2 GPa and 280.6 GPa from the films with low content of O elements. Detailed experimental results will be presented.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.703-703
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• 2013

다이아몬드상 탄소 박막(Diamond-like carbon, DLC) 박막은 낮은 마찰 계수, 높은 내마모성, 화학적 안정성, 적외선 영역에서의 높은 투과율 등의 장점을 바탕으로 MEMS (Micro-Electro Mechanical System) 소자와 MMAs (Moving Mechanical Assemblies)의 고체윤활코팅, 마그네틱 미디어와 하드디스크의 슬라이딩 표면 등 다양한 분야에 코팅소재로써 응용되어왔다 [1,2]. 현재 전기철도용 집전판은 마찰이 적고 전도성을 지니는 카본 소재로 구성되어 있다. 그러나 그 마모 비율이 너무 심하여 이를 개선할 수 있는 방안으로 고경도 저마찰력을 지니는 DLC 박막을 코팅 소재로써 제안하고자 한다. 그러나 기존에 DLC 박막은 절연특성이 매우 우수하기 때문에 기존에 전도성을 지니는 카본 집전판에 적용하기에는 어려움이 따른다. 따라서 DLC 박막 내에 실리콘(Si) 또는 금속(Metal)을 첨가시키거나, 금속 중간층을 포함시켜 전기적으로 전도특성을 향상시키는 방안이 제시되고 있으며, 본 연구에서는 DLC 박막과 유사하게 우수한 경도특성을 지니고, 낮은 마찰계수등을 지니는 비정질 탄소박막을 연구하여 카본 집전판에 코팅하고자하며, 특히 비정질 탄소박막에 금속 Ti를 도핑하여 집전판과의 접착력과 전기적 전도 특성을 향상시키고자 한다. Ti가 도핑된 탄소박막(TiC) 박막은 비대칭 마그네트론 스퍼터링(unbalanced magnetron sputtering; UBMS) 시스템을 이용하여 제작하였으며, 스퍼터링 조건 중 기판에 인가되어지는 기판온도에 따라 변화되어지는 TiC 박막의 트라이볼로지(Tribology) 특성을 고찰하고자 하였다. 증착시 기판온도의 증가는 TiC 박막의 경도, 마찰계수 특성등 트라이볼로지 특성을 향상시켰으며, 전기적 전도 특성을 향상시켰다. 이러한 결과는 스퍼터링 방법에 의해 증착되어진 TiC 박막내에 존재하는 sp2 결합과 관계가 있음을 확인할 수 있으며, 트라이 볼로지 특성은 TiC 박막내에 sp2 탄소결합의 비율 증가와 관련되어졌다. 특히 sp2 탄소결합은 TiC 박막 증착시 증가된 기판온도와 밀접한 관계가 있으며 기판온도의 증가에 따라 나노결정 클러스터의 크기와 수의 변화와 밀접한 관계가 있음을 확인하였다. 결국 기판온도는 TiC 박막의 트라이볼로지 특성을 향상시켰으며, 전기적 특성 또한 향상시켜 전기철도 집전판에 응용을 위한 소재로 평가할 수 있다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.14-14
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• 2001

Nitride films such as TiN, CrN etc. deposited on glass by PVD processes have been developed for many industrial applications. These nitride films deposited on glass were widely used for not only decorative and optical coatings but also wear and corrosion resistance coatings employed as dies and molds made of glass for the example of lens forming molds. However, the major problem of nitride coatings on glass by PVD process is non-uniform film owing to pin-hole and micro crack. It is estimated that nonuniform coating is influenced by a different surface energy between metal nitrides and glass due to binding states. In this work, therefore, for the evaluation of nucleation and growth mechanism of nitride films on glass TiN and CrN film were synthesized on glass with various nitrogen partial pressure by unbalanced magnetron sputtering. Prior to deposition, for the examination of relationship between surface energy and film microstructure plasma pre-treatment process was carried out with various argon to hydrogen flow rate and substrate bias voltage, duty cycle and frequency by using pulsed DC power supply. Surface energy owing to the different plasma pre-treatment was calculated by the measurement of wetting angle and surface conditions of glass were investigated by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy(XPS) and Atomic Force Microscope(AFM). The microstructure change of nitride films on glass with increase of film thickness were analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction(XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.665-670
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• 2016

Prevailing dissemination of machine tools and cutting technology have caused drastic developments of high speed dry machining with work materials of high hardness, and demands on the high-hardness-materials with high efficiency have become increasingly important in terms of productivity, cost reduction, as well as environment-friendly issue. Addition of Si to TiAlN has been known to form nano-composite coating with higher hardness of over 30 GPa and oxidation temperature over $1,000^{\circ}C$. However, it is not easy to add Si to TiAlN by using conventional PVD technologies. Therefore, Ti-Al-Si-N have been prepared by hybrid process of PVD with multiple target sources or PVD combined with PECVD of Si source gas. In this study, a single composite target of Ti-Al-Si was prepared by powder metallurgy of MA (mechanical alloying) and SPS (spark plasma sintering). Properties of he resulting alloying targets were examined. They revealed a microstructure with micro-sized grain of about $1{\sim}5{\mu}m$, and all the elements were distributed homogeneously in the alloying target. Hardness of the Ti-Al-Si-N target was about 1,127 Hv. Thin films of Ti-Al-Si-N were prepared by unbalanced magnetron sputtering method by using the home-made Ti-Al-Si alloying target. Composition of the resulting thin film of Ti-Al-Si-N was almost the same with that of the target. The thin film of Ti-Al-Si-N showed a hardness of 35 GPa and friction coefficient of 0.66.