• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.22-28
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• 2006

A spacer grid assembly, which is an interconnected array of slotted grid straps and is welded at the intersections to form an egg crate structure, is one of the main structural components of the nuclear fuel assembly for Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). The weld quality of spacer grids in PWRs fuel is extremely important for the fuel assembly performance in the nuclear renter. The spacer grid welds are currently evaluated mainly by the metallographic examination although it reveals only cross-points which are welded by the laser beam. This experiment is also to compare the weldability of Zircaloy-4 spacer grids using by the GTA and LB. The effect of node geometries of spacer grids for the GTAW and LBW has been studied and optimum conditions of spacer grid welding have been found. Microstructures and micro-hardness of the GTA and LB welded zones have been also compared.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.42-42
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• 2010

알루미늄 합금은 질량 대비 강도가 우수하고 내식성 및 저온 특성이 양호하여 구조재로서 널리 사용되고 있다. 또한 그 사용 추세가 점점 증가 하고 있으며 알루미늄 합금의 용접을 위해 현재까지 다양한 용접 공정이 적용되었다. 일반적으로 GMAW, GTAW 등의 아크 용접과 박판의 경우 저항 점용접, 그 외의 $CO_2$ laser, Nd:YAG laser와 같은 고밀도 에너지 용접 공정에 의한 연구 결과들이 많이 발표 되었다. 하지만 알루미늄 합금의 특성 상 용접부에 기공과 균열과 같은 결함들이 각 공정에서 많이 발생하며 이러한 결함을 감소시키기 위한 용접기술에 관해 많은 연구가 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 GMAW, Plasma-GMAW 공정을 적용하여 알루미늄 합금의 용접특성을 비교하였다. 알루미늄 합금 Al 5052, Al 6061 4mm 두께 모재에 대해 BOP(Bead On Plate) 용접실험을 실시하였으며 생산성 측면에서 각 공정에 따라 완전 용입 시 최대 용접 속도를 측정하여 비교하였다. 용접 품질 측면에서는 비드 표면 및 단면을 검사하고 인장시험을 수행하였으며, 용접 기공과 균열을 X-ray 촬영을 통해 비교하였다. 또한 고속카메라 촬영을 통해 용접 중 플라즈마로 인한 산화막 제거 효과를 확인하고 각 공정별 용접 시작부의 아크 안정성을 평가하였다. 인장시험 결과 모든 모드에서 모재에서 파단됨을 확인 하였고, Plasma-GMAW 공정의 경우 플라즈마의 예열효과로 인하여 GMAW 보다 완전용입 기준 용접속도가 빨랐으며, 청정작용도 우수한 것으로 확인되었다.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.72-78
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• 2007

Aluminized steel sheet is a material with excellent heat resistance, thermal reflection and corrosion resistance. It has wide applications, owing to its low cost and excellent performance, in the petrochemical industry, electric power and other energy conversion systems, etc and has attracted the attention of many investigators. But the welding of aluminized steel sheet has a problem of decreasing tensile-shear strength, caused by mixed Al in the weld. This study investigated behavior of Al and its structural properties to resolve this problem. Several analysis equipment(SEM, EDX, EPMA) were used to investigate Al element in the weld. Also microhardness tester and TEM equipment were used to find the intermetallic compound. As a result of this study, Al-rich zones existed in the weld and Fe-Al intermetallic compounds were found in these zones. At the same time, the weldability of aluminized stainless steel sheet was investigated and compared with that of aluminized steel sheet. Although there is a difference between the base metal of the low carbon steel and stainless steel, it is interpreted that a behavior of Al element in the weld is similar.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2024

Additive manufacturing with 3XX austenitic stainless steels has been widely investigated during a decade due to its high strength, good corrosion resistance, and fair weldability. However, in recently, Ni price drastically increased due to the high demand of secondary battery for electric mobilities. Thus, it is essential to substitute the Ni with Mn for reducing stainless steels price. Meanwhile, the chemical composition changes in stainless steels not only affect to its properties but also change the optimal processing parameters during additive manufacturing. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the processing parameters of each alloy for obtaining high-quality product using additive manufacturing. After processing optimization, mechanical properties and microstructure of the laser-powder bed fusion processed Fe-15Cr-7Ni-3Mn alloy were investigated in both room (298 K) and cryogenic (77 K) temperatures. Since the temperature reduction affects to the deformation mechanism transition, multi-scale microstructural characterization technique was conducted to reveal the deformation mechanism of each sample.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.76-82
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• 2005

Recently the application of laser welding technology has been considered to shipbuilding structure. However, when this technology is applied to primer coated steel, good quality weld beads are not easily obtained. Because the primer-coated layer caused the spatter, humping bead and porosity which are main part of the welding defect attributed to the powerful vaporizing pressure of zinc. So we performed experiment with objectives of understanding spatter and porosity formation mechanism and producing sound weld beads in 6mmt primer coated steels by a $CO_2$ CW laser. The effects of welding parameters; defocused distance, welding speed, coated thickness and coated position; were investigated in the bead shape and penetration depth on bead and lap welding. Alternative idea was suggested to suspend the welding defect by giving a reasonable gap clearance for primer coated thickness. The zinc of primer has a boiling point that is lower than melting point of steel. Zinc vapor builds up at the interface between the two sheets and this tends to deteriorate the quality of the weld by ejecting weld material from lap position or leaving porosity. Significant effects of primer coated position was lap side rather than surface. Therefore introducing a small gap clearance in the lap position, the zinc vapor could escape through it and sound weld beads can be acquired. In conclusion, formation and suspension mechanism of the welding defects was suggested by controling the factors.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.116-116
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• 2009

마그네슘 합금은 구조용으로 사용 가능한 금속 재료 중 가장 가벼운 소재이며, 동시에 비강도 및 비강성과 같은 기계적 특성이 우수하여 알루미늄 합금의 뒤를 이을 차세대 경량 재료로써 주목을 받고 있다. 더욱이 석유자원의 대부분을 소비하고 있는 운송기기 분야에서는 경량화를 통한 연비향상과 배출가스 저감이 가장 큰 과제이며, 이 문제를 해결하기 위한 노력의 일환으로 최경량 소재인 마그네슘 합금의 사용량은 더욱 증가할 것으로 기대된다. 한편 기존의 마그네슘 합금 관련 연구는 새로운 합금의 개발에 치우쳐 있었으며, 상대적으로 이들 합금을 활용하기 위한 가공기술, 특히 용접에 대한 연구는 아직까지 많이 부족한 실정이다. 이는 철강재와 비교하여 마그네슘 합금의 고유물성이 용접의 관점에서는 상당히 열악하기 때문으로, 마그네슘은 융점 및 비점은 낮은 반면, 증기압과 열전도율은 높고 표면장력 및 점성은 낮은 특성을 가지고 있다. 그러므로 타 공법에 비해 상대적으로 입열이 적고 고속용접이 가능한 레이저의 적용이 최적으로 판단된다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 Nd:YAG 레이저를 사용하여 압연판재로 상용화되어 있는 AZ31B 마그네슘 합금의 맞대기 용접성을 조사하였으며, 용접부의 미세조직과 용접조건에 따른 용접부의 기계적 특성을 비교 및 검토하였다. 용접부의 기계적 특성은 인장 및 경도시험을 통해 평가하였다. 그 결과 레이저 출력 1.2kW를 적용한 경우에 안정적인 강도를 얻을 수 있었으며 레이저 출력 1.5kW, 용접속도 80mm/sec의 조건에서 모재 인장강도 대비 103% 그리고 연신율 대비 47.1%의 최적의 결과가 얻어졌다. 또한 용접부의 경도는 모재와 동등하거나 다소 높은 수준이었다. 이는 용접시 용접부내 잔류하는 알루미늄에 의한 고용 강화 효과와 금속간화합물의 석출 빈도 증가, 그리고 레이저 용접의 특징인 급열급랭 공정에 기인한 결정립 미세화의 영향 때문으로 사료된다. 한편 용접부 미세조직을 관찰한 결과, 열영향부의 존재는 두드러지지 않았으며 용융경계부에서는 주상정이, 그리고 용접부 가운데에서는 등축정이 관찰되었다.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.83-89
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• 2007

It is expected that advanced high strength steels (AHSS) would be widely used for vehicles with better performance in automotive industries. One of distinctive features of AHSS is the high value of carbon equivalent (Ceq), which results in the different properties in formability, weldability and paintability from those of common grade of steel sheets. There is an exponential relation between Ceq and electric resistance, which seems also to have correlation with the thickness of electric deposition (ED) coat. Higher value of Ceq of AHSS lower the thickness of ED coat of AHSS. Some elements of AHSS such as silicon, if it is concentrated on the surface, affect negatively the formation of phosphates. In this case, silicon itself doesn't affect the phosphate, but its oxide does. This phenomenon is shown dramatically in the welding area. Arc welding or laser welding melts the base material. In the process of cooling of AHSS melt, the oxides of Si and Mn are easily concentrated on the surface of boundary between welded and non‐welded area because Si and Mn could be oxidized easier than Fe. More oxide on surface results in poor phosphating and ED coating. This is more distinctive in AHSS than in mild steel. General results on paintability of AHSS would be reported, being compared to those of mild steel.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.108-108
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• 2009

Precipitation hardening nickel base alloys strengthened by intermetallic compounds are extensively used to manufacture on the components of the hot section of gas turbine engines. To ensure structural stability and maintenance of strength properties for a long time, nickel alloys are normally subjected to complex alloying with elements to form ${\gamma}'$(gamma prime). Such alloys have a limited weldability, are normally welded in high temperature. However, laser welding have a merit that applies in room temperature as easy control of welding parameter and heat input. In this study, $CO_2$ laser welding is applied on STS304 plate with good ductility and precipitation hardening nickel base alloy (GTD111DS) used blade material. Also, several welding parameters are applied on powder, power and travel speed. There are no cracks in Rene 80 and IN 625 powder when STS304 plate is used. But IN 625 powder has no cracks and Rene 80 have some cracks in welds with GTD111DS substrate. Adjusting of welding parameter is tried to apply Rene 80 having a good strength compare to IN 625. In the result of adjusted welding parameter, optimized welding parameters are set with low power, low feed rate and high welding speed. Tensile strength of GTD111DS substrate with Rene 80 powder is same and over than the one of base metal in room temp and high temp($760^{\circ}C$).