• Current Applied Physics
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• 제18권12호
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• pp.1540-1545
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• 2018

SiGe alloy is widely used thermoelectric materials for high temperature thermoelectric generator applications. However, its high thermoelectric performance has been thus far realized only in alloys synthesized employing mechanical alloying techniques, which are time-consuming and employ several materials processing steps. In the current study, for the first time, we report an enhanced thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) ~ 1.1 at $900^{\circ}C$ in ntype $Si_{80}Ge_{20}$ nano-alloys, synthesized using a facile and up-scalable methodology consisting of rapid solidification at high optimized cooling rate ${\sim}3.4{\times}10^7K/s$, employing melt spinning followed by spark plasma sintering of the resulting nano-crystalline melt-spun ribbons. This enhancement in ZT > 20% over its bulk counterpart, owes its origin to the nano-crystalline microstructure formed at high cooling rates, which results in crystallite size ~7 nm leading to high density of grain boundaries, which scatter heat-carrying phonons. This abundant scattering resulted in a very low thermal conductivity ${\sim}2.1Wm^{-1}K^{-1}$, which corresponds to ~50% reduction over its bulk counterpart and is amongst the lowest reported thus far in n-type SiGe alloys. The synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, based on which the enhancement in their thermoelectric performance has been discussed.

• 구강생물연구
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.187-197
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• 2018

Chemical agents such as minocycline (MC) and citric acid (CA) were suggested in the treatment of contaminated implant surface. In this study, MC-HCl treatment was performed to enhance surface characteristics of titanium alloy surface. The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics and the biocompatibility of Ti-6Al-4V surface treated by MC. Alpha-beta titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) samples were prepared and they were divided into 6 groups according to chemical concentration and treatment time. These groups include 1) group I, non-treated smooth titanium alloy; 2) group II, MC 1.5 mg/mL for 1 hour; 3) group III, MC 1.5 mg/mL for 24 hours; 4) group IV, MC 15 mg/mL for 10 minutes; 5) group V, MC 100 mg/mL for 5 minutes; 6) group VI, pH1 CA for 3 minutes. The analysis of the surface characteristics of MC-treated titanium alloy was executed using scanning electron microscopy, roughness test, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cell adhesion and MTT assay was done using MC3T3 cell. Titanium surfaces treated with MC indicated a more smoothened surface microstructure. For group II and III, the new peaks of rutile TiO2 were found. Group II and V have more basic group of Ti-OH form in XPS. In MTT assay, all MC-treated groups showed significantly higher cell viability compared to control. The surface roughness, crystal structure, surface hydrophilicity, cell viability of smooth titanium surface was improved by MC treatment. Compared with the control experiment and CA-treated group, smooth titanium surface treated with MC showed improved surface characteristics and cell biocompatibility.

• Current Applied Physics
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• 제18권11호
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• pp.1426-1430
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• 2018

High magnetic field effects on the microstructure and magnetic properties of $BaFe_{12}O_{19}$ hexaferrites synthesized hydrothermal method have been investigated. The obtained results indicate that the lattice constant decreases gradually as the magnetic field strength increases, which may be attributed to the lattice distortion resulted from the high magnetic field. Polycrystalline $BaFe_{12}O_{19}$ samples prepared under magnetic field strength at zero and 5 T are single phase. It is found that application of external magnetic field during synthesis can induce orientated growth of the hexaferrite crystals along the easy magnetic axis. The magnetic properties can be effectively regulated by an application of high magnetic fields. It is observed that the $BaFe_{12}O_{19}$ prepared under a 5 T magnetic field exhibits a higher room-temperature saturation magnetization (66.3 emu/g) than that of the sample (43.6 emu/g) obtained without magnetic field. The results can be explained as the enhanced crystalline, improvement of $Fe^{3+}$ ions occupancy and the oriented growth induced by the external magnetic field. The growing orientation of particles gives rise to increased coercivity due to the enhancement in shape anisotropy. It is expected that an application of magnetic field during the formation of magnetic nanoparticles could be a promising technique to modify magnetic properties with excellent performance.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제47권10호
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• pp.621-628
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• 2009

Thermomechanical processes were carried out to evaluate their effects on the mechanical and the microstructural property of a ferritic-martensitic steel. Modified 9Cr-1Mo steels were hot-rolled at a temperature of either $780^{\circ}C$ or $850^{\circ}C$ after normalizing at $1050^{\circ}C$ and then were air-cooled. Continuous annealing at $850^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours immediately after the hot rolling was also performed and they were compared to the specimens without thermomechanical process. The result showed that there were little differences between the hot rolled specimens in terms of the precipitation density and size. However, V content inside the MX precipitates increased in the case of the specimen rolled at $850^{\circ}C$. The application of the continuous annealing induced coarsening of the Nb-rich MX precipitation as well as an increase in the amount of V-rich MX precipitation, which is expected to enhance high temperature mechanical properties of the ferritic-martensitic steel.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제47권9호
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• pp.573-579
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• 2009

Titanium/aluminum/stainless steel(Ti/Al/STS) clad materials have received much attention due to their high specific strength and corrosion-resisting properties. However, it is difficult to fabricate these materials, because titanium oxide is easily formed on the titanium surface during heat treatment. The aim of the present study is to derive optimized cladding conditions and thereupon obtain the stable quality of Ti/Al/STS clad materials. Ti sheets were prepared with and without pre-heat treatment and Ti/Al/STS clad materials were then fabricated by cold rolling and a post-heat treatment process. Microstructure of the Ti/Al and STS/Al interfaces was observed using a Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) and an Energy Dispersed X-ray Analyser(EDX) in order to investigate the effects of Ti pre-heat treatment on the bond properties of Ti/Al/STS clad materials. Diffusion bonding was observed at both the Ti/Al and STS/Al interfaces. The bonding force of the clad material with non-heat treated Ti was higher than that with pre-heat treated Ti before the cladding process. The bonding force decreased rapidly beyond $400^{\circ}C$, because the formed Ti oxide inhibited the joining process between Ti and Al. Bonding forces of STS/Al were lower than those of Ti/Al, because brittle $Fe_3Al$, $Al_3Fe$ intermetallic compounds were formed at the interface of STS/Al during the cladding process. In addition, delamination of the clad material with pre-heat treated Ti was observed at the Ti/Al interface after a cupping test.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제47권12호
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• pp.797-810
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• 2009

A study was made of the effects of a Sn addition on the microstructure and microfracture mechanism of squeeze cast AZ51-xSn magnesium alloys. Microstructural observation, in situ fracture testing, and fractographic observations were conducted on these alloys to clarify the microfracture process. The microstructural analyses indicated that $Mg_2Sn$ particles as well as $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ particles precipitated mainly along the solidification cell boundaries; the volume fraction of these hard particles increased as the amount of added Sn increased, with increased the strength. From in situ fracture observations of the AZ51-7Sn alloy, coarse precipitates located on the cell boundaries worked as easy crack propagation sites and caused abrupt intercellular fracturing. On the other hand, the overall fracture properties of the AZ51-3Sn alloy improved because crack propagation proceeded into the Mg matrix rather than into the cell boundaries as twins developed actively, as confirmed by an R-curve analysis. These findings suggest that the addition of 3~5 wt.% Sn is effective in improving both the tensile and fracture properties on the basis of well-developed twins, the blocking of crack propagation, and crack blunting.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.313-320
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• 2011

100 nm-thick hydrogenated amorphous silicon $({\alpha}-Si:H)$ films were deposited on a glass and glass/30 nm Ni substrates by inductively-coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition (ICP-CVD) at temperatures ranging from 100 to $550^{\circ}C$. The sheet resistance, microstructure, phase transformation and surface roughness of the films were characterized using a four-point probe, AFM (atomic force microscope), TEM (transmission electron microscope), AES (Auger electron spectroscopy), HR-XRD(high resolution X-ray diffraction), and micro-Raman spectroscopy. A nano-thick NiSi phase was formed at substrate temperatures >$400^{\circ}C$. AFM confirmed that the surface roughness did not change as the substrate temperature increased, but it increased abruptly to 6.6 nm above $400^{\circ}C$ on the glass/30 nm Ni substrates. HR-XRD and micro-Raman spectroscopy showed that all the Si samples were amorphous on the glass substrates, whereas crystalline silicon appeared at $550^{\circ}C$ on the glass/30 nm Ni substrates. These results show that crystalline NiSi and Si can be prepared simultaneously on Ni-inserted substrates.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.474-487
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• 2011

Bars of OFHC Cu with the diameter of 45 mm were processed by equal channel angular pressing up to 16 passes via route $B_c$, and homogeneity of their microstructures and mechanical properties was examined at every four passes which develop the equiaxed ultrafine grains. In general, overall hardness, yield strength and tensile strength increased by 3, 7, and 2 times respectively compared with those of unECAPed sample. Cross-sectional hardness exhibited a concentric distribution. Hardness was the highest at the center of bar and it decreased gradually from center to surface. After 16 passes, overall hardness decreased due to recovery and partial recrystallization. Regardless of the number of passage, yield strength and tensile strength were quite uniform at all positions, but elongation showed some degree of scattering. At 4 passes, coarse and ultrafine grains coexisted at all positions. After 4 passes, uniform equiaxed ultrafine grains were obtained at the center, while uniform elongated ultrafine grains were manifested at the upper half position. At the lower half position, grains were equiaxed but its size were inhomogeneous. It was found that inhomogeneity of grain morphology and grain size distribution at different positions are to be attributed to scattering in elongation but they did not affect strength. The present results reveal the high potential of practical application of equal channel angular pressing on fabrication of large-sized ultrafine grained bars with quite homogeneous mechanical properties.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제47권7호
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• pp.440-446
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• 2009

Co base superalloys have been widely used for the parts of gas turbine due to their excellent strength, thermal fatigue, oxidation resistance and weldability at high temperature. In this study, directional solidifications were carried out at various solidification rates, including $0.5{\sim}300{\mu}m/s$ in the Co base superalloy FSX-414. The cellular interface were formed at a low solidification rate, $1{\mu}m/s$, and the dendritic interface was found at higher solidification rates, $5{\sim}300{\mu}m/s$. As the spacing of dendrite structure decreased, the size and spacing of eutectics decreased. Dendrite arm spacing decreased with increasing solidification rates and temperature gradient. It was interesting to find the $M_{23}C_{6}$ eutectic microstructure formed between $\gamma$ dendrites. Composition analysis showed that Cr and W were segregated severely between the dendrites, which resulted in the formation of Cr-rich $M_{23}C_{6}$ and W-rich MC carbides.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.347-352
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• 2010

This study reports a novel method off abricating highly sensitive hydrogen gas sensors based on PdO thin films. The PdO thin films with a thickness of 40 nm were deposited on Si substrates under Ar and $O_2$ ambient conditions using a reactive de magnetron sputtering system. Considerable changes in the resistance of the palladium oxide thin films were observed when they were initially exposed to hydrogen gas, as a result of the reduction process. The sensitivity of the PdO thin films was found to be as high as 90%. After the thin films were exposed to hydrogen gas, the nano-sized cracks were discovered to have formed on the surface of the PdO thin films. These types of nano-cracks that formed on the deoxidized PdO thin films are known to play a key role incausing a four-fold reduction of the response time of the absorption process. The results of this study demonstrate that deoxidized PdO thin films can be applied for use in the creation of high-sensitivity hydrogen sensors.