• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2022

In this study, the effect of the initial particle size distribution (PSD) of (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ powders on the microstructure of sintered ceramics was investigated. (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ powders with uni-, bi-, tri-, and quad-modal PSDs were obtained through a planetary ball-mill. For the specimens sintered at 1080℃, the growth of abnormal grains was promoted from the powders exhibiting quad- and tri-modal PSDs with a high content of large particles, resulting in a microstructure in which huge abnormal grains were predominant. However, as the number of peaks in PSD and the overall particle size decreased, the abnormal grain growth was suppressed and the grain growth of small particles started, resulting in a microstructure with a uniform grain size. For the specimens sintered at 1100℃, huge abnormal grains were not observed due to the decrease in the critical driving force for 2D nucleation even when powders with quad- and tri-modal PSDs were used. It was confirmed that when powder with unimodal PSD was used, a uniform microstructure that was not significantly affected by the sintering temperature could be obtained. The results of this study demonstrate that the microstructure of (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃-based ceramics can be controlled by controlling the particle size of the initial powder.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.13 no.5 s.58
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• pp.327-335
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• 2006

In the development of new hydrogen absorbing materials for a next generation of metal hydride electrodes for rechargeable batteries, metastable Mg-Ni-based compounds find currently special attention. Amor phous-nanocrystalline $Mg_{63}Ni_{30}Y_7$ and $Mg_{50}Ni_{30}Y_{20}$ alloys were produced by mechanical alloying and melt-spinning and characterized by means of XRD, TEM and DSC. On basis of mechanically alloyed Mg-Ni-Y powders, complex hydride electrodes were fabricated and their electrochemical behaviour in 6M KOH (pH=14,8) was investigated. The electrodes made from $Mg_{63}Ni_{30}Y_7$ powders, which were prepared under use of a SPEX shaker mill, with a major fraction of nanocrystalline phase reveal a higher electrochemical activity far hydrogen reduction and a higher maximum discharge capacity (247 mAh/g) than the electrodes from alloy powder with predominantly amorphous microstructure (216 mAh/g) obtained when using a Retsch planetary ball mill at low temperatures. Those discharge capacities are higher that those fur nanocrystalline $Mg_2Ni$ electrodes. However, the cyclic stability of those alloy powder electrodes was low. Therefore, fundamental stability studies were performed on $Mg_{63}Ni_{30}Y_7$ and $Mg_{50}Ni_{30}Y_{20}$ ribbon samples in the as-quenched state and after cathodic hydrogen charging by means of anodic and cathodic polarisation measurements. Gradual oxidation and dissolution of nickel governs the anodic behaviour before a passive state is attained. A stabilizing effect of higher fractions of yttrium in the alloy on the passivation was detected. During the cathodic hydrogen charging process the alloys exhibit a change in the surface state chemistry, i.e. an enrichment of nickel-species, causing preferential oxidation and dissolution during subsequent anodization. The effect of chemical pre-treatments in 1% HF and in $10\;mg/l\;YCl_3/1%\;H_2O_2$ solution on the surface degradation processes was investigated. A HF treatment can improve their anodic passivation behavior by inhibiting a preferential nickel oxidation-dissolution at low polarisation, whereas a $YCl_3/H_2O_2$ treatment has the opposite effect. Both pre-treatment methods lead to an enhancement of cathodically induced surface degradation processes.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2009

We successfully fabricated C-doped ex-situ $MgB_2$ wires using two different methods such as mechanical alloying(MA) and combined process(CP) of in-situ and ex-situ. In the MA, the precursor powder was prepared with a mixture of $MgB_2$ and 1 at% C powders by planetary ball milling for 0-100 h. In the CP, on the other hand, C-doped $MgB_2$ powder was prepared with Mg, B, and C powders by in-situ process via compaction, sintering, and crushing. The powders prepared by two methods were loaded into Fe tube and then the assemblages were drawn by a conventional powder-in-tube technique. The MA treatment of C-added $MgB_2$ decreased the particles/grains size and resulted in C-doping into $MgB_2$ after sintering, improving the critical current density($J_c$) in high external magnetic field. For the C-doped $MgB_2$ wire by MA for 25 h, the $J_c$ was $4.1{\times}10^3A/cm^2$ at 5 K and 6.4 T, which was 5.9 times higher than that of pure and untreated $MgB_2$ wire. The CP also provided C-doping into $MgB_2$ and improved the $J_c$ in high magnetic field; the C-doped $MgB_2$ wire fabricated by CP exhibited a $J_c$ being 2.3 times higher than that of the ex-situ wire used commercial $MgB_2$ powder at 5 K and 6.0 T($2.7{\times}10^3A/cm^2\;vs.\;1.2{\times}10^3A/cm^2$).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.384-390
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• 2011

Ti-6Al-4V ELI (Extra Low Interstitial) alloy has been widely used as an alternative to bone due to its excellent biocompatibility. However, it still has many problems, including a high elastic modulus and toxicity. Therefore, nontoxic biomaterials with a low elastic modulus should be developed. However, the fabrication of a uniform coating is challenging. Moreover, the coating layer on Ti and Ti alloy substrates can be peeled off after implantation. To overcome these problems, it is necessary to produce bulk Ti and Ti alloy with hydroxyapatite (HA) composites. In this study, Ti, Nb, and Zr powders, which are biocompatible elements, were milled in a mixing machine (24h) and by planetary mechanical ball milling (1h, 4h, and 6h), respectively. Ti-35%Nb-7%Zr and Ti-35%Nb-7%Zr-10%HA composites were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at $1000^{\circ}C$ under 70MPa using mixed and milled powders. The effects of HA addition and milling time on the biocompatibility and physical and mechanical properties of the Ti-35%Nb-7%Zr-(10%HA) alloys have been investigated. $Ti_2O$, CaO, $CaTiO_3$, and $Ti_xP_y$ phases were formed by chemical reaction during sintering. Vickers hardness of the sintered composites increases with increased milling time and by the addition of HA. The biocompatibilty of the HA added Ti-Nb-Zr alloys was improved, but the sintering ability was decreased.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of milling of boron (B), which is one of raw materials of $MgB_2$, on the critical current density ($J_c$) of $MgB_2$. B powder used in this study is semi-amorphous B (Pavezyum, Turkey, 97% purity, 1 micron). The size of B powder was reduced by planetary milling using $ZrO_2$ balls (a diameter of 2 mm). The B powder and balls with a ratio of 1:20 were charged in a ceramic jar and then the jar was filled with toluene. The milling time was varied from 0 to 8 h. The milled B powders were mixed with Mg powder in the composition of (Mg+2B), and the powder mixtures were uniaxially pressed at 3 tons. The powder compacts were heat-treated at $700^{\circ}C$ for 1 h in flowing argon gas. Powder X-ray diffraction and FWHM (Full width at half maximum) were used to analyze the phase formation and crystallinity of $MgB_2$. The superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) and $J_c$ of $MgB_2$ were measured using a magnetic property measurement system (MPMS). It was found that $B_2O_3$ was formed by B milling and the subsequent drying process, and the volume fraction of $B_2O_3$ increased as milling time increased. The $T_c$ of $MgB_2$ decreased with increasing milling time, which was explained in terms of the decreased volume fraction of $MgB_2$, the line broadening of $MgB_2$ peaks and the formation of $B_2O_3$. The $J_c$ at 5 K increased with increasing milling time. The $J_c$ increase is more remarkable at the magnetic field higher than 3 T. The $J_c$ at 5 K and 4 T was the highest as $4.37{\times}10^4A/cm^2$ when milling time was 2 h. The $J_c$ at 20 K also increased with increasing milling time. However, The $J_c$ of the samples with the prolonged milling for 6 and 8 h were lower than that of the non-milled sample.