• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.96-101
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• 2000

Comparative studies on microstructure, and mechanical and anti-oxidation properties between TiN and Ti-Si-N films were performed. The Ti-Si-N films were deposited on high-speed steel and silicon wafer substrates by plasma-assisted chemcial vapor deposition(PACVD) technique. The Si addition to TiN film caused to change the microstructure such as grain size refinement, randomly multi-oriented microstructure, and nano-sized codeposition of silicon nitride in the TiN matrix. The Ti-Si-N film, contains Si content of ∼7 at.%, showed the micro-hardness value of ∼3400 HK, which was higher than the pure TiN film whose hardness was ∼1500HK. The Ti-Si(7 at.%)-N film also showed much improved anti-oxidation properties compared with those of the pure TiN film. These properties were also related to the microstructure of Ti-Si(7 at.%)-N film was formed and retarded further oxidation of the nitridelayer. These properties were also related to the microstructure of Ti-Si(7 at.%)-N film which was characterized by nano-sized precipitates of silicon nitride phase in the TiN matrix and randomly oriented grains.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.277-284
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• 2023

Hardness and damping characteristics of fine discontinuous precipitates (DPs) microstructure generated by low temperature long term isothermal aging were investigated in comparison with those of T6 heat-treated microstructure composed of DPs and continuous precipitates (CPs) in Mg-9%Al alloy. In this study, T6 and fine DPs microstructures were obtained by isothermal aging at 453 K for 24 h and at 413 K for 336 h, respectively, after solution treatment at 693 K for 24 h. The DPs microstructure exhibited higher hardness than the T6 microstructure, which is related to the lower (α + β) interlamellar spacing of the DPs. The DPs microstructure possessed better damping capacity than the T6 microstructure in the strain-amplitude independent region, whereas in the strain-amplitude dependent region, the reverse behavior was observed. The damping tendencies depending on strain-amplitude were discussed based on the microstructural features of the T6 and DPs microstructures.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.263-269
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• 2019

The mechanism of microstructure and hardness changes during mill annealing of Ti-6Al-4V alloy was investigated. The annealing heat treatments were performed at $675{\sim}795^{\circ}C$ in vacuum for 2 hours, followed by air cooling. The microstructure was observed by using an optical microscope and X-ray diffraction, and hardness was measured by using a Rockwell hardness tester and micro Vickers hardness tester. The average grain size becomes smaller at $675^{\circ}C$ to $735^{\circ}C$ due to the formation of new grains rather than grain growth, but becomes larger at $735^{\circ}C$ to $795^{\circ}C$ due to growth of the already-formed grains rather than formation of new grains. The mill annealing temperature becomes higher, the ${\beta}$ phase fraction decreases and ${\alpha}$ phase fraction increases at room temperature. This is because the higher annealing temperature, the smaller amount of V present in the ${\beta}$ phase, and thus the ${\beta}$ to ${\alpha}$ transformation occurs more easily when cooled to room temperature. As the mill annealing temperature increases, the hardness value tends to decrease, mainly due to resolution of defects such as dislocations from $675^{\circ}C$ to $735^{\circ}C$ and due to grain growth from $735^{\circ}C$ to $795^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.220-225
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• 2018

The microstructure and mechanical characteristics of SUS630 specimens fabricated using the direct energy deposition (DED) process are investigated. In DED, several process parameters such as laser scan speed, chamber gas flow, powder carrier gas flow, and powder feed rate are kept fixed; the laser power is changed as 150 W, 180 W, and 210 W. As the laser power increases, the surface becomes smooth, the thickness uniformity improves, and the size and number of pores decreases. With the increase in laser power, the hardness deviation decreases and the average hardness increases. The microstructure of the material is columnar; pores are formed preferentially along the columnar interface. The lath-martensite phase governs the overall microstructure. The volumetric fraction of the retained austenite phase is measured to increase with the increase of laser input power.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.468-474
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• 2015

Evaluations of the microstructure and mechanical properties of age hardenable Cu-2.0wt%Be alloy are performed in order to determine whether it can be used as a welding electrode for projection welding. The microstructure examinations, hardness measurements, and tensile tests of selective aging conditions are conducted. The results indicate that the aging treatment with the fine-grained microstructure exhibits better hardness and high tensile properties than those of the coarse-grained microstructure. The highest hardness value and high tensile strength are obtained from the aged condition of $300^{\circ}C$ for 360 min due to the presence of the metastable ${\dot{\gamma}}$ precipitates on the grain boundaries. The values of the highest hardness and tensile strength are measured as 374 Hv and 1236.2 MPa, respectively. The metastable ${\dot{\gamma}}$ precipitates are transferred to the equilibrium ${\gamma}$ precipitates due to the over-aged treatment. The presence of the ${\gamma}$ precipitates appears as nodule-like precipitates decorated around the grain boundaries. The welding electrode with the best aging treated condition exhibits better welding performance for electrodes than those of electrodes used previously.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2012

The Fe-based self-fluxing alloy powders and TiC particles were ball-milled and subsequently compacted and sintered at various temperatures, resulting in the TiC particle-reinforced Fe self-fluxing alloy hybrid composite, and the microstructure and micro-hardness were investigated. The initial Fe-based self-fluxing alloy powders and TiC particles showed the spherical shape with a mean size of approximately 80 ${\mu}m$ and the irregular shape of less than 5 ${\mu}m$, respectively. After ball-milling at 800 rpm for 5 h, the powder mixture of Fe-based self-fluxing alloy powders and TiC particles formed into the agglomerated powders with the size of approximately 10 ${\mu}m$ that was composed of the nanosized TiC particles and nano-sized alloy particles. The TiC particle-reinforced Fe-based self-fluxing alloy hybrid composite sintered at 1173 K revealed a much denser microstructure and higher micro-hardness than that sintered at 1073 K and 1273 K.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.9-14
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• 2009

This study evaluated the mechanical properties of Ti-Cu alloys with the hope of developing an alloy for dental casting with better mechanical properties than unalloyed titanium. Ti-Cu alloys with four concentrations of Cu(2,5,10wt%) were made in an argon-arc melting furnace. The microstructure and micro-Vickers hardness were determined. X-ray diffraction pattern test was performed on the polished specimens. The microstructure of 2%Cu and 5%Cu alloys are shown acicular ${\alpha}Ti$ phase formed on the surfaces of previously formed $\beta$grains. The 10%Cu alloys has essentially a eutectoid structure; this structure includes lamella of ${\alpha}Ti$ and $Ti_2Cu$ phase that transformed from ${\alpha}Ti$ at the eutectoid temperature. The micro-Vickers hardness of CP Ti specimens was significantly(p<0.05) lower than that of any of the other alloys. Among the Ti-Cu alloys, the 10%Cu alloys exhibited a significantly(p<0.05) higher hardness value. but lower than that of Ti-6%Al-4%V alloy. From these results, it was concluded that new alloys for dental castings should be designed as Ti-Cu based alloys if other properties necessary for dental castings were obtained.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.271-281
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in hardness and microstructure of a dental multipurpose alloy after simulated complete firing with controlled cooling rate and holding time by characterizing the changes in hardness and microstructure after simulated firing with various cooling rates and holding times. Methods: Before hardness testing, the specimens were solution treated and then were rapidly quenched into ice brine. The specimens were completely fired in furnace. Hardness measurements were made using a Vickers microhardness tester. The specimens were examined at 15 kV using a field emission scanning electron microscope. Results: The maximum hardness value was obtained at stage 0 after simulated firing with various cooling rates (quick cooling, stage 0, stage 1, stage 2, stage 3). By the repetitive firing, the hardness of the tested alloy decreased gradually. By holding the specimen at $500^{\circ}C$ for 10-20min after simulated firing, the hardness increased apparently. However, to hold the alloy for long periods of time in the relatively high temperature after simulated firing resulted in the formation of thick oxidation layer. The oxide film formed on the surface of the alloy after simulated complete firing with controlled cooling rate, which was mainly composed of O and Zn. Conclusion: It is reasonable to hold the alloy at $500^{\circ}C$ for 10-20min after complete firing in other to improve the final hardness of the alloy.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2018

Effects of annealing temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties through thickness of a cold-rolled Cu-3.0Ni-0.7Si alloy were investigated in detail. The copper alloy with thickness of 3 mm was rolled to 50 % reduction at ambient temperature without lubricant and subsequently annealed for 0.5h at $200{\sim}900^{\circ}C$. The microstructure of the copper alloy after annealing was different in thickness direction depending on an amount of the shear and compressive strain introduced by rolling; the recrystallization occurred first in surface regions shear-deformed largely. The hardness distribution of the specimens annealed at $500{\sim}700^{\circ}C$ was not uniform in thickness direction due to partial recrystallization. This ununiformity of hardness corresponded well with an amount of shear strain in thickness direction. The average hardness and ultimate tensile strength showed the maximum values of 250Hv and 450MPa in specimen annealed at $400^{\circ}C$, respectively. It is considered that the complex mode of strain introduced by rolling effected directly on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the annealed specimens.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.693-700
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• 2020

Direct water quenching technique can be used in hot stamping process to obtain higher cooling rate compared to that of the normal die cooling method. In the direct water quenching process, setting proper water flow rate in consideration of material thickness and the size of the area directly cooled in the component is important to ensure uniform microstructure and mechanical properties. In this study, to derive proper water flow rate conditions that can achieve uniform microstructure and mechanical properties, microstructure and hardness distribution in various water flow rate conditions are measured for 3.2 mm thick boron steel sheet. Hardness distribution is uniform under the flow condition of 1.5 L/min or higher. However, due to the lower cooling rate in that area, the lower flow conditions result in a drastic decrease in hardness in some areas in the hot-stamped part, resulting in low martensite fraction. From these results, it is found that the selection of proper water flow rate is an important factor in hot stamping with direct water quenching process to ensure uniform mechanical properties.