• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.367-372
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• 2021

The effect of carbon addition on the general corrosion behavior of high-chromium cast iron (HCCI) was studied by a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) or electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD), or electrochemical polarization techniques in 0.1 mol dm^-3 H₂SO₄ + 0.05 mol dm^-3 HCl at room temperature. The addition of 2.1-2.8 wt% carbon to HCCI increased the fraction of eutectic austenite and eutectic carbide phases, while that of HCCI decreased the fraction of the primary austenitic phase. Potentiostatic polarization of the HCCI at -0.35 V_SSCE or 0.0 V_SSCE resulted in preferential general corrosion of the primary austenitic or eutectic austenitic phases, respectively. The decrease in corrosion current density and the shift in noble corrosion potential direction with increasing carbon content in the HCCI indicated that the fraction and the chemical composition of austenitic (primary and eutectic) and carbide phases were strongly related to the general corrosion behavior of the HCCI.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.555-565
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• 2023

Despite many advantages as structural materials, austenitic stainless steels (SSs) have been avoided in many next generation nuclear systems due to poor void swelling resistance. In this paper, we report the results of heavy ion irradiation to the recently developed advanced radiation resistant austenitic SS (ARES-6P) with nanosized NbC precipitates. Heavy ion irradiation was performed at high temperatures (500 ℃ and 575 ℃) to the damage level of ~200 displacement per atom (dpa). The measured void swelling of ARES-6P was 2-3%, which was considerably less compared to commercial 316 SS and comparable to ferritic martensitic steels. In addition, increment of hardness measured by nano-indentation was much smaller for ARES-6P compared to 316 SS. Though some nanosized NbC precipitates were dissociated under relatively high dose rate (~5.0 × 10^-4 dpa/s), sufficient number of NbC precipitates remained to act as sink sites for the point defects, resulting in such superior radiation resistance.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2000

The purpose of the present study was to investigate weld metallurgical phenomena such as primary solidification mode, microstructural evolution and hot cracking susceptibility in nitrogen-bearing austenitic stainless steel GTA welds. Eight experimental heats varying nitrogen content from 0.007 to 0.23 wt.% were used in this study. Autogenous GTA welding was performed on weld coupons and the primary solidification mode and their microstructural characteristics were investigated from the fusion welds. Varestraint test was employed to evaluate the solidification cracking susceptibility of the heats and TCL(Total Crack Length) was used as cracking susceptibility index. The solidification mode shifted from primary ferrite to primary austenite with an increase in nitrogen content. Retained delta ferrite exhibited a variety of morphology as nitrogen content varied. The weld fusion zone exhibited duplex structure(austenite+ferrite) at nitrogen contents less than 0.10 wt.% but fully austenitic structure at nitrogen contents more than 0.20 wt.%. The weld fusion zone in alloys with about 0.15 wt.% nitrogen experienced primary austenite + primary ferrite solidification (mode AF) and contained delta ferrite less than 1% at room temperature. Regarding to solidification cracking susceptibility, the welds with fully austenitic structure exhibited high cracking susceptibility while those with duplex structure low susceptibility. The cracking susceptibility increased slowly with an increase in nitrogen content up to 0.20 wt.% but sharply as nitrogen content exceeded 0.20 wt.%, which was attributed to solidification mode shift fro primary ferrite to primary austenite single phase solidification.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.4-17
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• 1984

Overlaid weld metals of austenitic stainless steel in a pressure vessel of power reactor are usually post-weld heated for a long period of time after welding. The PWHT is considered as a kind of sensitizing and it is important to check the soundness of the weld metal after PWHT, especially about the precipitation of carbides. The purpose of this report is to obtain information on the relation between the change of microstructure and Post-Weld Heat Treatment in the overlaid weld metals. Metallurgical aspects of the problem on austenitic stainless steel heated at $625^{\circ}C$, $670^{\circ}C$, $720^{\circ}C$ and $760^{\circ}C$ for 3, 10, 30, 100 and 300 hours have been investigated by means of optical-micrography, micro-hardness measurement, scanning electron microscope and electron-probe micro analysis. From the results obtained, the following conclusions are drawn; 1) The PWHT above $625^{\circ}C$ for a long time causes a diffusion of carbon atoms from low alloy steel into stainless steel, and consequently carbon is highly concentrated at the boundary layer of stainless steel. 2) C in ferritic steel migrated to austenitic steel and carbides precipitated in austenitic steel along fusion line. At higher temperatures, the ferrite grains coarsened in the decarburized zone. 3) In the change of microstructure of stainless steel overlaid weld metal, the width of carbides precipitated zone and decarburized zone increased with increase of PWHT temperature and time. 4) At about $625^{\circ}C$ to $760^{\circ}C$, chromium carbides, mainly $M_{23} C_6$, precipitate very closely in the carburized layer with remarkable hardening. 5) Precipitation of delta ferrite from molten weld metal depends on solidification phenomenon. There was a small of ferrite near the bond in which the local solidification time was short, comparing with after parts of weld metal. Shape and amount of ferrite were not changed by Post-Weld Heat Treatment after solidification.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.559-565
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• 2015

The ductile-brittle transition behavior of two austenitic Fe-18Cr-10Mn-N-C alloys with different grain sizes was investigated in this study. The alloys exhibited a ductile-brittle transition behavior because of an unusual brittle fracture at low temperatures unlike conventional austenitic alloys. The alloy specimens with a smaller grain size had a higher yield and tensile strengths than those with a larger grain size due to grain refinement strengthening. However, a decrease in the grain size deteriorated the low-temperature toughness by increasing the ductile-brittle transition temperature because nitrogen or carbon could enhance the effectiveness of the grain boundaries to overcome the thermal energy. It could be explained by the temperature dependence of the yield stress based on low-temperature tensile tests. In order to improve both the strength and toughness of austenitic Fe-Cr-Mn-N-C alloys with different chemical compositions and grain sizes, more systematic studies are required to understand the effect of the grain size on the mechanical properties in relation to the temperature sensitivity of yield and fracture stresses.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.362-365
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• 2009

Microstructural evolution and the mechanical properties of various carbon steels were investigated with the variation deformation temperature to explore the optimum microstructure with excellent combination of strength and ductility. For this purpose, three carbon steels containing different carbon contents were deformed using Gleeble 3500 at temperatures including austenitic, austenitic/ferritic, austenitic/cementitic, ferritic/cementitic regions. The results showed that in the medium and high carbon steels, cementite particles became finer with decreasing deformation temperature resulting higher hardness but lower ductility. Further effort is needed to find out optimum microstructures with enhanced mechanical properties.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2008

Based upon the good compatibility to neutron irradiation and high temperature water environment, austenitic stainless steels are widely used for core internal structural materials of light water reactors. But, recently, intergranular cracking was detected in the stainless steels for the core applications in some commercial PWR plants. Authors studied on the root cause of the intergranular cracking and developed the countermeasure including the alternative materials for these core applications. The intergranular cracking in these core applications are defined as an irradiation assisted mechanical cracking and irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking. In this paper, the root cause of the intergranular cracking and its countermeasure are summarized and discussed.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.38-50
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• 1994

Fundamental deformation mechanism and plastic behavior of AISI304 austenitic stainless steel were investigated to evaluate press formability. Local and uniform deformation capacity of AISI304 steel were compared to those of ferritic AISI430 steel and Al killed low carbon steel. Nine kinds of austenitic stainless steels having different austenite stabilities were made in laboratory scale to examine the transformation behavior in various deformation mode and variation of mechanical properties. Deformation path and strain distributions along edge corner of commercial sink die were illustrated and effect of austenite stability on press forming of sink die was clarified with experiments using square cup drawing tools.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.58-62
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• 2001

The objective of research is to clarify the interaction between dislocations and precipitates during high temperature creep deformation behaviors of high n austenitic steels. After measuring the internal stress in minimum creep rate state under applied stress of 236MPa at 873K, a transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation was performed to investigate the interaction between dislocations and precipitates during high temperature creep deformation. The band widths and values of internal stress increased when the nitride precipitates distribute more densely. Fine nitrides disturbed the dislocation movement with pinning the dislocations and perfect dislocations were separated into Shockley partial dislocations by fine nitrides. Coarse nitrides disturbed the dislocation movement with climb mechanism.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.280-285
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• 2001

Nb-containing austenitic stainless steel is widely used as exhaust frame and diffuser assembly in power plant. However, this steel is known to be difficult to produce by the continuous casting process due to the surface cracks. Therefore, the continuous casting technology was developed for the prevention of the surface cracks on CC slabs. Precipitates and the analysis of heat trasfer in a slab were investigated in order to find out the formation mechanism of surface cracks on cc slabs It was found that surface cracks are occurred due to the NbC precipitates, which are formed along the grain boundaries around $800^{\circ}C$. The secondary cooling pattern has been developed to produce the defect free CC slabs of Nb-containing austenitic stainless steel.