• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2003

The microstructural characteristics of $Al_2$$O_3$/Cu composites hot-pressed at different temperatures for atmosphere switching from $H_2$to Ar have been studied. When the composite atmosphere was switched at $1000^{\circ}C$ it led to more homogeneous microstructure than when the atmosphere was switched at $1450^{\circ}C$. The strong sensitivity of Cu to atmosphere, especially the oxygen content in the atmosphere, was found to be responsible for the observed change, based upon the interfacial phenomena related to the formation of $CuAlO_2$. The practical implication of these results is that an optimum processing condition for the design of homogeneous microstructure and stable properties can be established.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.212-217
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• 2000

An optimum route to fabricate the $Al_2O_3/Cu$ nanocomposites with sound microstructure and improved mechanical properties was investigated. Microstructural investigations for the composites prepared using $Al_2O_3/Cu$-nitrate showed that fine Cu particles with average size of 150 nm were homogeneously distributed within the $Al_2O_3$ matrix grains and at the grain boundaries. Fracture strength of 953 MPa and toughness of 4.8 Mpa(equation omitted)m were measured for the composite. The strengthening and toughening of the composites are explained by the refinement of the microstructure and the crack bridging/deflection, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.696-700
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• 2004

The reduction behavior of $Al_{2}O_3/CuO$ powder mixtures, prepared from $Al_{2}O_3/CuO$ or $Al_{2}O_3/Cu-nitrate$, was investigated by using thermogravimetry and hygrometry. The powder characteristics were examined by BET, XRD and TEM. Also, the influence of powder characteristics on the microstructure and properties of hot-pressed composites was analyzed. The formation mechanism of nano-sized Cu dispersions was explained based on the powder characteristics and reduction kinetics of oxide powders. In addition, the dependence of the microstructure and mechanical properties of hot-pressed composites on powder characteristics is discussed in terms of the initial size and distribution of Cu particles. The practical implication of these results is that an optimum processing condition for the design of homogeneous microstructure and required properties can be established.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2004

Effects of liquid phase and reinforcing particle morphology on the sintering of Al-6 wt％Cu-10 vol％ $Al_2O_3$ or SiC particles were studied in regards to densification, structure and transverse rupture properties. The Al-Cu liquid phase penetrated the boundaries between the aluminum matrix powders and the interfaces with reinforcing particles as well, indicating a good wettability to the powders. This enhanced the densification during sintering and the resulting strength and ductility. Since most of the copper added, however, was dissolved in the liquid phase and formed a brittle $CuAl_2$ phase upon cooling rather than alloyed with the aluminum matrix, the strengthening effect by the copper was not fully realized. Reinforcing particles of agglomerate type were found less suitable for the liquid phase sintering than solid type particles. $Al_2O_3$ and SiC particles protluced little difference on the sintering behavior but their size had a large effect. Repressing of the sintered composites increased density and bending properties but caused debonding at the matrix-particle interfaces and also fracturing of the particles.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.280-284
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• 2009

The pressureless sintering behavior of $Al_2O_3$/Cu powder mixtures, prepared from $Al_2O_3$/CuO and $Al_2O_3$/Cu-nitrate, has been investigated. Microstructural observation revealed that $Al_2O_3$ powders with nano-sized Cu particles could be synthesized by hydrogen reduction method. The specimens, pressureless-sintered at $1400^{\circ}C$ for 4 min using infrared heating furnace with the heating rate of $200^{\circ}C$/min, showed the relative density of above 90%. Maximum hardness of 16.1 GPa was obtained in $Al_2O_3$/MgO/Cu nanocomposites. The nanocomposites exhibited the enhanced fracture toughness of 4.3-5.7 $MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$, compared with monolithic $Al_2O_3$. The mechanical properties were discussed in terms of microstructural characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.656-660
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• 2002

It was investigated that $Al_2$$O_3$/Cu nanocomposite powder could be optimally prepared by dispersion and reduction of Cu oxide, and suitably consolidated by employing pulse electric current sintering (PECS) process. $\alpha$-$Al_2$$O_3$ and CuO powders were used as elemental powders. In order to obtain $Al_2$O$_3$ embedded by finely and homogeneously dispersed CuO particles, the elemental powders were high energy ball milled at the rotating speed of 900 rpm, with the milling time varying up to 10 h. The milled powders were heat treated at $350^{\circ}C$ in H$_2$ atmosphere for 30 min to reduce CuO into Cu. The reduced powders were subsequently sintered by employing PECS process. The composites sintered at $1250^{\circ}C$ for 5 min showed the relative density of above 98%. The fracture toughness of the $Al_2$$O_3$/Cu nanocomposite was as high as 4.9MPa.$m^{1}$2//, being 1.3 times the value of pure $Al_2$$O_3$ sintered under the same condition.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.285-294
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• 1993

Aluminum alloy 2024 matrix composites reinforced with $Al_2O_3$ particles, were prepared by rheo-compocasting, a process which consists of the incoporation distribution of reinforcement by stirring within a semi-solid alloy. The microstructures and characteristics of the interfaces have been studied using optical microscope and scanning electon microscope in 2024 aluminum alloy composites reinforced with $Al_2O_3$ particles. The main results are as follows: (1) $Al_2O_3$ particles were well distributed in composites by using rheo-compocasting. (2) As the addition of $Al_2O_3$ particle increases, the average dendrite numbers and the hardness were increased. (3) Interaction between $Al_2O_3$ particles and alloy 2024 resulted in the formation of Mg and Cu element rich region around the $Al_2O_3$ particles.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.480-487
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• 1997

Particle reinforced metal matrix composites(MMCs) via a centrifugal spray-cast deposition(CSD) process were fabricated by injecting second phase particles($Al_2O_3$<40${\mu}m$, W<17.3${\mu}m$) into copper melt on the atomizing disc. Compositing modes were investigated by combining microstructures and mathematical modeling between Cu droplets and the reinforced particles injected. The $Cu/W_P$ powders were shown that the W particles penetrate and get embedded in the Cu droplets. It is considered that the W particles composite preferentially in Cu melt on the atomizing disc. On the other hand, the $Al_2O_3$, particles did not penetrate into the Cu droplets on the atomizing disc but get attached in surface of Cu droplets during the flight. It is considered that the compositing may be attained in the flight distance which the relative velocity between Cu droplet and $Al_2O_3$, particle is maximum. The microstructure of the $Cu/W_P$ and the $Cu/(Al_2O_3)_p$ composite preform was strongly influenced by compositing modes of droplets, and after subsequent deposition it was comprised as it is called the dispersed type and the cell type of microstructure, respectively.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.13 no.5 s.58
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• pp.366-370
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• 2006

The microstructure and mechanical properties of hot-pressed $Al_2O_3/Cu$ composites with a different sintering temperature have been studied. The size of matrix grain and Cu dispersion in composites increased with increase in sintering temperature. Fracture toughness of the composite sintered at high temperature exhibited an enhanced value. The toughness increase was explained by the thermal residual stress, crack bridging and crack branching by the formation of microcrack. The nanocomposite, hot-pressed at $1450^{\circ}C$, showed the maximum fracture strength of 707 MPa. The strengthening was mainly attributed to the refinement of matrix grains and the increased toughness.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.301-306
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• 1999

Mechanical properties of oxide based materials could be improved by nanocomposite processing. To investigate optimum route for fabrication of nanocomposite enabling mass production, high energy ball milling and Pulse Electric Current Sintering (PECS) were adopted. By high energy ball milling, the $Al_2O_3$-based composite powder with dispersed Cu grains below 20 nm in diameter was successfully synthesized. The PECS method as a new process for powder densification has merits of improved sinterability and short sintering time at lower temperature than conventional sintering process. The relative densities of the $Al_2O_3$-5vol%Cu composites sintered at $1250^{\circ}C$ and $1300^{\circ}C$ with holding temperature of $900^{\circ}C$ were 95.4% and 95.7% respectively. Microstructures revealed that the composite consisted of the homogeneous and very fine grains of $Al_2O_3$ and Cu with diameters less than 40 nm and 20 nm respectively The composite exhibited enhanced toughness compared with monolithic $Al_2O_3$. The influence of the Cu content upon fracture toughness was discussed in terms of microstructural characteristics.