• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.23-23
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• 2018

In this study, new titanium alloys were prepared by adding elements such as tantalum (Ta), zirconium (Zr) and the like to complement the biological, chemical and mechanical properties of titanium alloys. The Ti-40Ta-xZr ternary alloy was formed on the basis of Ti-40Ta alloy with the contents of Zr in the contents of 0, 3, 7 and 15 wt. %. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), which combines high-voltage sparks and electrochemical oxidation, is a novel method to form ceramic coatings on light metals such as Ti and its alloys. These oxide film produced by the electrochemical surface treatment is a thick and uniform porous form. It is also composed of hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate-based phases, so it has the characteristics of bone inorganic, non-toxic and very high bioactivity and biocompatibility. Ti-40Ta-xZr alloys were homogenized in an Ar atmosphere at $1050^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour and then quenched in ice water. The electrochemical oxide film was applied by using a power supply of 280 V for 3 minutes in 0.15 M calcium acetate monohydrate ($Ca(CH_3COO)_2{\cdot}H_2O$) and 0.02 M calcium glycerophosphate ($C_3H_7CaO_6P$) electrolyte. A small amount of 0.0075M zinc acetate and magnesium acetate were added to the electrolyte to enhance the bioactivity. The mechanical properties of the coated surface of Ti-40Ta-xZr alloys were evaluated by Vickers hardness, roughness test, and elastic modulus using nano-indentation, and the surface wettability was evaluated by measuring the contact angle of the coated surface. In addition, cell activation and differentiation were examined by cell culture of HEK 293 (Human embryonic kidney 293) cell proliferation. Surface properties of the alloys were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM), EDS, and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD).

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.1013-1014
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• 2004

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2015

Recent developing tendency of nuclear power plant are studied by searching of NDSL, KIPRIS, Science Direct and so on. Welding materials such as low alloyed steels, stainless steels, nickel-based alloys, zirconium alloy and welding methods such as narrow gap welding, laser beam welding, friction stir welding, overlay welding are investigated.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.115-147
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• 2023

The Fukushima accident in 2011 revealed some major flaws in traditional nuclear fuel materials under accidental conditions. Thus, the focus of research has shifted toward "accident tolerant fuel" (ATF). The aim of this approach is to develop fuel material solutions that lead to improved reactor safety. The application of protective coatings on the surface of nuclear fuel cladding has been proposed as a near-term solution within the ATF framework. Many coating materials are being developed and evaluated. In this article, an overview of different zirconium-based alloys currently in use in the nuclear industry is provided, and their performances in normal and accidental conditions are discussed. Coating materials proposed by different institutions and organizations, their performances under different conditions simulating nuclear reactor environments are reviewed. The strengths and weaknesses of these coatings are highlighted, and the challenges addressed by different studies are summarized, providing a basis for future research. Finally, technologies and methods used to synthesize thin-film coatings are outlined.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.326-333
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• 2008

Since the 1990s, the second generation of Zirconium alloys containing main alloy compositions of Nb, Sn and Fe have been used as a replacement of Zircaloy-4 (Zr-Sn-Fe-Cr), a first-generation Zirconium alloy, to meet severe and rigorous reactor operating conditions characterized by high-burn-up, high-power and high-pH operations. In this study, the mechanical properties and creep behaviors of Zr-Sn-Fe-Cr and Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe alloys were investigated in a temperature range of $450{\sim}500^{\circ}C$ and in a stress range of $80{\sim}150\;MPa$. The mechanical testing results indicate that the yield and tensile strengths of the Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe alloy are slightly higher compared to those of Zr-Sn-Fe-Cr. This can be explained by the second phase strengthening of the $\beta$-Nb precipitates. The creep test results indicate that the stress exponent for the steady-state creep rate decreases with the increase in the applied stress. However, the stress exponent of the Zr-Sn-Fe-Cr alloy is lower than that of the Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe alloy in a relatively high stress range, whereas the creep activation energy of the former is slightly higher than that of the latter. This can be explained by the dynamic deformation aging effect caused by the interaction of dislocations with Sn substitutional atoms. A higher Sn content leads to a lower stress exponent value and higher creep activation energy.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2002

Effect of V and Sb content on characteristics of ${\beta}\;to\;{\alpha}$ phase transformation in Zr-0.84Sn alloy has been studied using optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. As V content increased, the ${\beta}{\to}{\beta}+{\alpha}$ transformation temperature was lowered, thus allowing the width of $\alpha$-lath in air-cooled Zr-0.86Sn-0.40V alloy to be fine. The width of ${\alpha}$-lath in air-cooled Zr-0.84Sn-xSb, however, was rarely changed with Sb content. The ${\beta}\;to\;{\alpha}$ transformed microstructures of water-quenched Zr-0.84Sn, Zr-0.84Sn-0.10V and Zr-0.84Sn-0.19V alloys were mainly slipped martensite. On the other hand, those of wafter-quenched Zr-0.86Sn-0.40V and Zr-0.85Sn-0.05Sb alloys were predominantly twinned martensite. In case of water-quenched Zr-0.85Sn-0.12Sb and Zr-0.84Sn-0.17Sb alloys, basketweave structure was observed. The transition of slipped martensite to twinned martensite in Zr-0.84Sn-xV alloys and the transition of twinned martensite to basketweave structure in Zr-0.84Sn-xSb alloys were due to the decrease of $M_s$ temperature.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.570-587
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• 1993

Recently a number of severe fuel degradation events, seemingly due to internal secondary hydriding, have been reported. This paper reviews internal hydriding of defected zircaloy cladding. First, the history of zircaloy cladding development and the environment of the zircaloys in service in the nuclear reactor are introduced. Fundamental aspects of zircaloy hydriding, such as hydrogen permeability in zirconium oxide, terminal solubility and precipitation in zirconium and its alloys, and the deleterious effect of hydrides are reviewed. The mechanism of massive internal hydriding in defected zircaloy fuel rods is qualitatively described based on the observed phenomena. Significant factors affecting the hydriding process are discussed. A quantitative model for the massive hydriding as a part of an effort to mitigate fuel degradation is briefly mentioned and necessary information and recommended future work for improvement of the model are outlined.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.483-490
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• 2019

Currently, the Korean nuclear industry uses ZIRLO as material for nuclear fuel cladding(zirconium alloy). KEPCO Nuclear Fuel is in the process of developing a HANA alloy to enable domestic production of cladding. Cladding manufacture involves multistage heat treatments and pickling processes, the latter of which is vital for the removal of defects and impurities on the cladding surface. SMUT that forms on the cladding surface during such pickling process is a source of surface defects during heat treatment and post-treatment processes if not removed. This study analyzes ZIRLO, HANA-4, and HANA-6 alloy claddings to extensively study the SEM/EDS, XRD, and particle size characteristics of SMUT, which are second phase particles that are formed on the cladding surface during pickling processes. Using the analysis results, this study observes SMUT formation characteristics according to Nb concentration in Zr alloys during the washing process following the pickling process. In addition, this study observes SMUT removal characteristics on cladding surfaces according to concentrations of nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid in the acid solution.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.10-21
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the electrochemical characteristics of nanotubular Ti-25Nb-xZr ternary alloys for dental implant materials. Materials and Methods: Ti-25Nb-xZr alloys with different Zr contents (0, 3, 7, and 15 wt.%) were manufactured using commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti), niobium (Nb), and zirconium (Zr) (99.95 wt.% purity). The alloys were prepared by arc melting in argon (Ar) atmosphere. The Ti-25Nb-xZr alloys were homogenized in Ar atmosphere at $1,000^{\circ}C$ for 12 hours followed by quenching into ice water. The microstructure of the Ti-25Nb-xZr alloys was examined by a field emission scanning electron microscope. The phases in the alloys were identified by an X-ray diffractometer. The chemical composition of the nanotube-formed surfaces was determined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Self-organized $TiO_2$ was prepared by electrochemical oxidation of the samples in a $1.0M\;H_3PO_4+0.8wt.%$ NaF electrolyte. The anodization potential was 30 V and time was 1 hour by DC supplier. Surface wettability was evaluated for both the metallographically polished and nanotube-formed surfaces using a contact-angle goniometer. The corrosion properties of the specimens were investigated using a 0.9 wt.% aqueous solution of NaCl at $36^{\circ}C{\pm}5^{\circ}C$ using a potentiodynamic polarization test. Result: Needle-like structure of Ti-25Nb-xZr alloys was transform to equiaxed structure as Zr content increased. Nanotube formed on Ti-25Nb-xZr alloys show two sizes of nanotube structure. The diameters of the large tubes decreased and small tubes increased as Zr content increased. The lower contact angles for nanotube formed Ti-25NbxZr alloys surfaces showed compare to non-nanotube formed surface. The corrosion resistance of alloy increased as Zr content increased, and nanotube formed surface showed longer the passive regions compared to non-treatment surface. Conclusion: It is confirmed that corrosion resistance of alloy increased as Zr content increased, and nanotube formed surface has longer passive region compared to without treatment surface.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.79-85
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• 2016

It is imperative to find environment-friendly coatings as an alternative to the currently used hexavalent chromate conversion coatings for the purpose of improving the anti-corrosion properties of aluminum alloys. Hence, in this study, the corrosion properties of a trivalent chromate conversion coating solution are analyzed and measured. Because of the presence of multiple components in trivalent chromate conversion coating solutions, it is difficult to control plating, attributed to their mutual organic relationship. It is of significance to determine the concentrations of the components present in these coatings; hence, qualitative and quantitative analysis is required. The coating solution contained not only an environment-friendly component chromium(III), but also zirconium, fluorine, sulfur, and potassium, in the coating film. These metals are confirmed to produce a film with improved corrosion resistance to form a thin layer. The excellent corrosion resistance for the trivalent chromate solution is attributed to various inorganic and organic additives.