• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.367-373
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• 2023

600 MPa-grade deformed bar samples were manufactured by conventional hot rolling and subsequent Tempcore heat treatment processes. Considering the short-time water quenching step of the Tempcore process for hot-rolled steel, it is inevitable that the temperature profile of the deformed bar depends strongly on its position throughout the sample thickness. As a result, its microstructure can be easily divided into two regions, the surface and the core regions. The former is expected to have a fresh martensite microstructure under rapid cooling conditions, but self-tempering occurs due to the intense heat flow from the hot core region after the process. The latter is generally known to exhibit a mixed microstructure of ferrite and pearlite due to its slow cooling rate. In this study, detailed microstructural evolutions were examined through the thickness direction. The large variation of the microstructure through the thickness direction in the deformed bar samples is partly due to the easy carbon diffusion from the limited additions of alloying elements.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.543-547
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• 2015

The cooling process referred to as Tempcore has been applied to produce a high-strength rebar. Excellent rebar with strength and weldability can be manufactured from mild steel without the addition of alloying elements by using the Tempcore process. However, there are limitations to evaluating the effect of various chemical compositions and cooling conditions within a site facility. In this study, we developed an apparatus to simulate the Tempcore process and obtained microstructures with a hardened surface layer, an intermediate region and a soft inner core. The experimental apparatus has been equipped with a cooler set that is the same as the site facility and consists of a pump line that supplies pressure of 12-13 bar and flow rate of up to $50m^3/h$. In accordance with the simulation result of steel grade SD400 that requires more than 400 MPa of yield strength, both the hardened area ratio and the hardness with respect to each cooling depth were found to agree well with the product.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.477-483
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• 2017

This present study deals with the microstructure and tensile properties of 600 MPa-grade high strength and seismic resistant reinforcing steels. The high strength reinforcing steel (SD 600) was fabricated by Tempcore processing, while the seismic resistant reinforcing steel (SD 600S) was air-cooled after hot-rolling treatment. The microstructure analysis results showed that the SD 600 steel specimen consisted of a tempered martensite and ferrite-pearlite structure after Tempcore processing, while the SD 600S steel specimen had a fully ferrite-pearlite structure. The room-temperature tensile test results indicate that, because of the enhanced solid solution and precipitation strengthening caused by relatively higher contents of C, Mn, Si and V in the SD 600S steel specimen, this specimen, with fully ferrite-pearlite structure, had yield and tensile strengths higher than those of the SD 600 specimen. On the other hand, the hardness of the SD 600 and SD 600S steel specimens changed in different ways according to location, dependent on the microstructure, ferrite grain size, and volume fraction.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.157-161
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• 2009

The corrosion resistance of reinforcing bar was studied to endure the marine environment during shipment. The red rust on the surface did not damage the adherence in the concrete structures, especially in highly alkaline environment, but made the consumer doubt of the quality. The passivation process by alkalization of the quenching water in the tempcore process failed to endure the long shipping period. The ceramic coating by sol-gel process improved the corrosion resistance without damaging the mechanical properties and adherence between concrete and reinfiorcing bar. Optimal concentration of the coating solution and coating temperature were tested. No additional energy was necessary for the coating process by spraying during cooling process, resulting simplified process and low cost. Salt spray test, cyclic corrosion test and atmospheric test were employed to confirm the resistance. The corrosion rates were presented by rating number and polarization resistance. The coating layer was examined by FIB, XRD and SEM etc.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.229-242
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• 2013

Corrosion is important reason for the deterioration of the bond between reinforcing steel and the surrounding concrete. Corrosion of the steel mainly depends on its microstructure. Smooth S220, ribbed S420 and S500 grade reinforcing steels were used in the experiments. Samples were subjected to accelerated corrosion. Pullout tests were carried out to evaluate the effects of corrosion on bond strength of the specimens. S500 grade steel which has tempered martensite microstructure showed lower corrosion rate in concrete than S220 and S420 steels which have ferrite+perlite microstructure. S500 grade steel showed highest bond strength among the other steel grades in concrete. Bond strength between reinforcing steel and concrete increased with increase in the strength of steel and concrete. It also depends on whether reinforcing bar is ribbed or not.