• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.92-107
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• 2016

Graphene was coated on austenitic and martensitic stainless steels to simulate the metallic bipolar plate of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized and was reduced to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via a hydrazine process. rGO was confirmed by FE-SEM, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. Interfacial contact resistance (ICR) between the bipolar plate and the gas diffusion layer (GDL) was measured to confirm the electrical conductivity. Both ICR and corrosion current density decreased on graphene coated stainless steels. Corrosion resistance was also improved with immersion time in cathodic environments and satisfied the criteria of the Department of Energy (DOE), USA. The total concentrations of metal ions dissolved from graphene coated stainless steels were reduced. Furthermore hydrophobicity was improved by increasing the contact angle.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.2755-2770
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• 2022

The need for Dissimilar Welded Joint (DWJ) in the power plant components arises in order to increase the overall efficiency of the plant and to avoid premature failure in the component welds. The Activated-Tungsten Inert Gas (A-TIG) welding process, which is a variant of Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, is focus of this review work concerning the DWJ of nuclear grade creep-strength enhanced ferritic/martensitic (CSEF/M) steels and austenitic steels. A-TIG DWJs are compared with Multipass-Tungsten Inert Gas (M-TIG) DWJ based on their mechanical and microstructural properties. The limitations of multipass welding have put A-TIG welding in focus as A-TIG provides a weld with increased depth of penetration (DOP) and enhanced mechanical properties. Hence, this review article covers the A-TIG welding principle and working parameters along with detailed analysis of role played by the flux in welding procedure. Further, weld characteristics of martensitic and austenitic steel DWJ developed with the A-TIG welding process and the M-TIG welding process are compared in this study as there are differences in mechanical, microstructural, creep-related, and residual stress obtained in both TIG variants. The mechanics involved in the welding process is deliberated which is revealed by microstructural changes and behavior of base metals and WFZ.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.261.2-261
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• 2002

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.296-296
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• 2002

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to examine a feasibility to substitute Ti for Ta in reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel by comparing a Ti-added RAFM steel with a conventional Ta-added RAFM steel. The microstructures and mechanical properties of Ta-, and Ti-added RAFM steels were investigated and a relationship between microstructures and mechanical properties was considered based on quantitative analysis of precipitates in two RAFM steels. Ta-, and Ti-added RAFM steels were normalized at $1000{\sim}1040^{\circ}C$ for 30 min and tempered at $750^{\circ}C$ for 2 hr. Both RAFM steels had very similar microstructures, that is, typical tempered martensite with relatively coarse $M_{23}C_6$ carbides at boundaries of grain and lath, and fine MX precipitates inside laths. The MX precipitates were identified as TaC in Ta-added RAFM steel and TiC or (Ti, W)C in Ti-added RAFM steel, respectively. It is believed that these RAFM steels show similar tensile and Charpy impact properties due to similar microstructures. Precipitate hardening and brittle fracture strength calculated with quantitative analysis of precipitates elucidated well the similar behaviors on the tensile and Charpy impact properties of Ta-, and Ti-added RAFM steels.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.148-154
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• 2020

The radiation induced segregation of Cr at grain boundaries (GBs) in Ferritic/Martensitic steels was modeled assuming vacancy and interstitialcy diffusion mechanisms. In particular, the dependence of segregation on temperature and grain boundary misorientation angle was analyzed. It is found that Cr enriches at grain boundaries at low temperatures primarily through the interstitialcy mechanism while depletes at high temperatures predominantly through the vacancy mechanism. There is a crossover from Cr enrichment to depletion at an intermediate temperature where the Cr:Fe vacancy and interstitialcy diffusion coefficient ratios intersect. The bell-shape Cr enrichment response is attributed to the decreasing void sinks inside the grains as temperature rises. It is also shown that low angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) and special Σ coincidence-site lattice (CSL) grain boundaries exhibit suppressed radiation induced segregation (RIS) response while high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) have high RIS segregation. This different behavior is attributed to the variations in dislocation density at different grain boundaries.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.142-149
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• 2010

Austenitic stainless steel is more or less difficult with conventional gas nitriding treatment, but it can be nitrided after appropriate pre-heat treatment. The pretreatment was more effective upon nitriding for austenitic stainless steel than martensitic stainless steel. Both thickness and microhardness measurements indicated that effect of the nitriding treatment was more sensitive in austenitic stainless steel than martensitic stainless steel with nitriding time. Fatigue strength was most increased with SACM 645 steel among three steels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.473-474
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• 2005

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.267-274
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• 2001

Microalloyed steels, which substituted by conventional quenched and tempered steels, have been used in a wide variety of structural and engineering application. The main driving force for preference of MA steels is a cost reduction which can be achieved by an omission of heat treatment. In this study, low carbon martensitic MA steels in 0.18C-0.30(0.60)Si-2.00(1.80)Mn-0.05S-1.5Cr-0.05(0.10)V-0.015Ti(wt%) were investigated to know the effects of cooling method on the mechanical properties and microstructures of Si, Mn, V added microalloyed steel at different reheating temperature. Microstructure of oil quenched steels which were comprised lath martensite, auto-tempered martensite and retained austenite, had more various structure than that of air cooled steel made of mainly bainite. Therefore, oil quenched steels, which had more various microstructure, had better strength-toughness balance compare to air cooled steels. In the impact test, fracture mode of oil quenched steels, which showed good mechanical properties, were dimple, but that of air cooled steels were cleavage.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.281-289
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• 2016

The effect of nitrogen on the electrochemical corrosion and nanomechanical behaviors of martensitic stainless steel was examined using potentiodynamic polarization and nanoindentation test methods. The results indicate that partial replacement of carbon with nitrogen effectively improved the passivation and pitting corrosion resistance of conventional high-carbon and high- chromium martensitic steels. Post-test observation of the samples after a potentiodynamic test revealed a severe pitting attacks in conventional martensitic steel compared with nitrogen- containing martensitic stainless steel. This was shown to be due to (i) microstructural refinement results in retaining a high-chromium content in the matrix, and (ii) the presence of reversed austenite formed during the tempering process. Since nitrogen addition also resulted in the formation of a $Cr_2N$ phase as a process of secondary hardening, the hardness of the nitrogen- containing steel is slightly higher than the conventional martensitic stainless steel under tempered conditions, even though the carbon content is lowered. The added nitrogen also improved the wear resistance of the steel as the critical load (Lc2) is less, along with a lower scratch friction coefficient (SFC) when compared to conventional martensitic stainless steel such as AISI 440C.