• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.194-202
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• 2010

Application of a stronger and more durable material for reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) might be an effective way to insure the integrity and increase the efficiency of nuclear power plants. A series of research projects to apply the SA508 Gr.4 steel in ASME code to RPVs are in progress because of its excellent strength and durability compared to commercial RPV steel (SA508 Gr.3 steel). In this study, the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of SA508 Gr.3 Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel and SA508 Gr.4N Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel were investigated. The differences in the stable phases between these two low alloy steels were evaluated by means of a thermodynamic calculation using ThermoCalc. They were then compared to microstructural features and correlated with mechanical properties. Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel shows the upper bainite structure that has coarse cementite in the lath boundaries. However, Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel shows the mixture of lower bainite and tempered martensite structure that homogeneously precipitates the small carbides such as $M_{23}C_6$ and $M_7C_3$ due to an increase of hardenability and Cr addition. In the mechanical properties, Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel has higher strength and toughness than Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel. Ni and Cr additions increase the strength by solid solution hardening. In addition, microstructural changes from upper bainite to tempered martensite improve the strength of the low alloy steel by grain refining effect, and the changes in the precipitation behavior by Cr addition improve the ductile-brittle transition behavior along with a toughening effect of Ni addition.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.11
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• pp.728-733
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• 2009

Cu based amorphous ($Cu_{54}Zr_{22}Ti_{18}Ni_{6}$) powders were deposited onto Al 6061 substrates by cold spray process with different powder preheating temperatures (below glass transition temperature: $350^{\circ}C$, near glass transition temperature: $430^{\circ}C$ and near crystallization temperature: $500^{\circ}C$). The microstructure and macroscopic properties (hardness, wear and corrosion) of Cu based amorphous coating layers were also investigated. X-ray diffraction results showed that cold sprayed Cu based amorphous coating layers of $300{\sim}350{\mu}m$ thickness could be well manufactured regardless of powder preheating temperature. Porosity measurements revealed that the coating layers of $430^{\circ}C$ and $500^{\circ}C$ preheating temperature conditions had lower porosity contents (0.88%, 0.93%) than that of the $350^{\circ}C$ preheating condition (4.87%). Hardness was measured as 374.8 Hv ($350^{\circ}C$), 436.3 Hv ($430^{\circ}C$) and 455.4 Hv ($500^{\circ}C$) for the Cu based amorphous coating layers, respectively. The results of the suga test for the wear resistance property also corresponded well to the hardness results. The critical anodic current density ($i_{c}$) according to powder preheating temperature conditions of $430^{\circ}C$, $500^{\circ}C$ was lower than that of the sample preheated at $350^{\circ}C$, respectively. The higher hardness, wear and corrosion resistances of the preheating conditions of near $T_{g}$ and $T_{x}$, compared to the properties of below $T_{g}$, could be well explained by the lower porosity of coating layer.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.461-466
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• 2018

The effects of Ca/Sr ratio and the sintering temperature on the properties of $(Ca_xSr_{(1-x)})ZrO_3$ (CSZ) ceramics were investigated in this study. CSZ ceramics were prepared using solid-state reaction process, which were sintered in air at temperatures ranging from $1350^{\circ}C$ to $1450^{\circ}C$. Their structures were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The change in Ca/Sr ratio significantly affected the crystalline phase and the dielectric properties of the $(Ca_xSr_{(1-x)})ZrO_3$ ceramics. The secondary phase, $Ca_{0.15}Zr_{0.85}O_{1.85}$, was observed and increased correspondingly with the rising of sintering temperatures. In order to understand the effects of secondary phase on the dielectric properties of CSZ ceramics, the $Ca_{0.15}Zr_{0.85}O_{1.85}$ phase was prepared individually using solidstate method. The $Ca_{0.15}Zr_{0.85}O_{1.85}$ ceramics sintered at $1500^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours possessed a dielectric constant (${\varepsilon}_r$) of 21.7, a dielectric loss ($tan{\delta}$) of $49.510^{-4}$ and an Insulation Resistance (IR) of $2.1{\times}10^{10}{\Omega}$. The ($Ca_{0.7}Sr_{0.3})ZrO_3$ ceramics exhibited the best dielectric properties, with a permittivity of 29, a dielectric loss ($tan{\delta}$) of $2.7{\times}10^{-4}$, and an Insulation Resistance (IR) of $2.6{\times}10^{12}{\Omega}$.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2008

Thermal evaporated 10 nm-$Ni_{50}Co_{50}$/(70 nm-poly)Si films were deposited to examine the energy saving properties of silicides formed by rapid thermal annealing at temperature ranging from 500 to $1,100^{\circ}C$ for 40 seconds. Thermal evaporated 10 nm-Ni/(70 nm-poly)Si films were also deposited as a reference using the same method for depositing the 10 nm-$Ni_{50}Co_{50}$/(70 nm-poly)Si films. A four-point probe was used to examine the sheet resistance. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction XRD were used to determine cross sectional microstructure and phase changes, respectively. UV-VIS-NIR and FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) were used to examine the near-infrared (NIR) and middle-infrared (MIR) absorbance. TEM analysis confirmed that the uniform nickel-cobalt composite silicide layers approximately 21 to 55 nm in thickness had formed on the single and polycrystalline silicon substrates as well as on the 25 to 100 nm thick nickel silicide layers. In particular, nickel-cobalt composite silicides showed a low sheet resistance, even after rapid annealing at $1,100^{\circ}C$. Nickel-cobalt composite silicide and nickel silicide films on the single silicon substrates showed similar absorbance in the near-IR region, while those on the polycrystalline silicon substrates showed excellent absorbance until the 1,750 nm region. Silicides on polycrystalline substrates showed high absorbance in the middle IR region. Nickel-cobalt composite silicides on the poly-Si substrates annealed at $1,000^{\circ}C$ superior IR absorption on both NIR and MIR region. These results suggest that the newly proposed $Ni_{50}Co_{50}$ composite silicides may be suitable for applications of IR absorption coatings.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.202-208
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• 2009

The effects of aging time on the microstructure and shear strength of the Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC)/Ag pad/Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG)/BGA solder joints were investigated through isothermal aging at $150^{\circ}C$ for 1000 h with conventional Sn-37Pb and Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu. $Ni_3Sn_4$ intermetallic compound (IMC) layers was formed at the interface between Sn-37Pb solder and LTCC substrate as-reflowed state, while $(Ni,Cu)_3Sn_4$ IMC layer was formed between Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu solder and LTCC substrate. Additional $(Cu,Ni)_6Sn_5$ layer was found at the interface between the $(Ni,Cu)_3Sn_4$ layer and Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu solder after aging at $150^{\circ}C$ for 500 h. Thickness of the IMC layers increased and coarsened with increasing aging time. Shear strength of both solder joints increased with increasing aging time. Failure mode of BGA solder joints with LTCC substrate after shear testing revealed that shear strength of the joints depended on the adhesion between Ag metallization and LTCC. Fracture mechanism of Sn-37Pb solder joint was a mixture of ductile and pad lift, while that of Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu solder joint was a mixture of ductile and brittle $(Ni,Cu)_3Sn_4$ IMC fracture morphology. Failure mechanisms of LTCC/Ag pad/ENIG/BGA solder joints were also interpreted by finite element analyses.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.412-419
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• 2008

Creep behavior of the squeeze infiltrated AS52 Mg matrix composites reinforced with 15 vol% of aluminum borate whiskers($Al_{18}B_4O_{33}w$) fabricated squeeze infiltration method was investigated. Microstructure of the composites was observed as uniformly distributed reinforcement in the matrix without any particular defects of casting pores etc.. Creep test was carried out at the temperature of 150 and $200^{\circ}C$ under the applied stress range of 60~120 MPa. The creep resistance of the composite was significantly improved comparing with the unreinforced AS52 Mg alloy. The creep behavior of composites might be interpreted with the substructure invariant model successfully for the composite. Threshold stress of the composite exist for the creep deformation of the composite. The analysis of the creep behavior of the composite with threshold stress indicated that creep deformation was controlled by the lattice diffusion process of AS52 Mg matrix at given effective stresses and temperatures. Activation energy was also calculated to check lattice diffusion controlled creep behavior of the composite.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.659-667
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• 2012

Alloy 617 is a Ni-base superalloy and a candidate material for the intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) of a very high temperature gas reactor (VHTR) which is one of the next generation nuclear reactors under development. The high operating temperature of VHTR enables various applications such as mass production of hydrogen with high energy efficiency. Alloy 617 has good creep resistance and phase stability at high temperatures in an air environment. However, it was reported that the mechanical properties decreased at a high temperature in an impure helium environment. In this study, high-temperature corrosion tests were carried out at $850^{\circ}C-950^{\circ}C$ in a helium environment containing the impurity gases $H_2$, CO, and $CH_4$, in order to examine the corrosion behavior of Alloy 617. Until 250 h, Alloy 617 specimens showed a parabolic oxidation behavior at all temperatures. The activation energy for oxidation in helium environment was 154 kJ/mol. The SEM and EDS results elucidated a Cr-rich surface oxide layer, Al-rich internal oxides and depletion of grain boundary carbides. The thickness and depths of degraded layers also showed a parabolic relationship with time. A normal grain growth was observed in the Cr-rich surface oxide layer. When corrosion tests were conducted in a pure helium environment, the oxidation was suppressed drastically. It was elucidated that minor impurity gases in the helium would have detrimental effects on the high-temperature corrosion behavior of Alloy 617 for the VHTR application.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.242-247
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• 2009

On the Transient Liquid Phase Bonding (TLPB) phenomenon with the MBF-50 insert metal at narrow gap (under 100), it takes long time for the bonding and the homogenizing. Typically, isothermal solidification is controlled by the diffusion of depressed element of B and Si. However, the amount of B and Si in the MBF-50 filler metal is large. This is reason of the long bonding time. Also, the MBF-50 filler metal did not contained Al and Ti which are ${\gamma}^{\prime}$ phases former. This is reason of the long homogenizing time. From the bonding phenomenon with the MBF-50 insert metal, we search main factors on the bonding mechanism and select several insert-metals for using the wide-gap TLPB. New insert-metals contained Al and Ti which are ${\gamma}^{\prime}$ phases former and decrease the B then the MBF-50. When the new insert-metal was used on the TLPB, the bonding time was decreased about 1/10 times and homogenizing heat treatment was no needed. In spite of the without homogenizing, the volume fraction of ${\gamma}^{\prime}$ phases in the boned interlayer was equal to homogenizing heat treated specimen which was TLPB with the MBF-50. Finally, the new insert metal named WG1 for the wide-gap TLPB is more efficient then the MBF-50 filler metal without decreasing the bonding characteristic.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2010

10 nm thick Ni layers were deposited on 200 nm $SiO_2/Si$ substrates using an e-beam evaporator. Then, 60 nm or 20 nm thick ${\alpha}$-Si:H layers were grown at low temperature (<$200^{\circ}C$) by a Catalytic-CVD. NiSi layers were already formed instantaneously during Cat-CVD process regardless of the thickness of the $\alpha$-Si. The resulting changes in sheet resistance, microstructure, phase, chemical composition, and surface roughness with the additional rapid thermal annealing up to $500^{\circ}C$ were examined using a four point probe, HRXRD, FE-SEM, TEM, AES, and SPM, respectively. The sheet resistance of the NiSi layer was 12${\Omega}$/□ regardless of the thickness of the ${\alpha}$-Si and kept stable even after the additional annealing process. The thickness of the NiSi layer was 30 nm with excellent uniformity and the surface roughness was maintained under 2 nm after the annealing. Accordingly, our result implies that the low temperature Cat-CVD process with proposed films stack sequence may have more advantages than the conventional CVD process for nano scale NiSi applications.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.617-626
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• 2008

This study is concerned with the effect of Cu and B addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of high-strength bainitic steels. Six kinds of steels were fabricated by varying alloying elements and hot-rolling conditions, and their microstructures and tensile and Charpy impact properties were investigated. Their effective grain sizes were also characterized by the electron back-scatter diffraction analysis. The tensile test results indicated that the B- or Cu-containing steels had the higher yield and tensile strengths than the B- or Cu-free steels because their volume fractions of bainitic ferrite and martensite were quite high. The B- or Cu-free steels had the higher upper shelf energy than the B- or Cu-containing steels because of their higher volume fraction of granular bainite. In the steel containing 10 ppm B without Cu, the best combination of high strengths, high upper shelf energy, and low energy transition temperature could be obtained by the decrease in the overall effective grain size due to the presence of bainitic ferrite having smaller effective grain size.