• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2010

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is an attractive machining technique but it requires electrically conductive ceramic materials. In this study, Alumina matrix composites reinforced with CNTs were fabricated through CNT purification, mixing, compaction and spark plasma sintering (SPS) processes. $Al_2O_3$ nanocomposites with the different CNT concentrations were synthesized. The mechanical and electrical characteristics of $Al_2O_3$/CNTs composites were examined in order to apply the materials to the EDM process. In addition, micro-EDM using wire electrical discharge grinding (WEDG) was conducted under the various EDM parameters to investigate the machining characteristics of machined hole by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM). The results show that $Al_2O_3$/CNTs 10%Vol. was more suitable than the other materials because high conductivity and large discharge energy caused violent sparks resulting in bad machining accuracy and surface quality.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2000

Ni and Ni-Cr porous metals which are estimated to be easy to fabricate by squeeze casting are used as strengtheners for composite materials. As a matrix material, Al-7%wtSi-0.3 wt%Mg(AC4C) has been used. In case of Ni/AC4C and Ni-Cr/AC4C composite, $750^{\circ}C$ melt temperature and minimum 25 MPa squeezing pressure are needed to produce sound composite materials. The observation of interfacial reaction zone at various heat treatment condition showed that solutionizing temperature of above 520^{\circ}C$, the interfacial reaction zone increased proportionally with increasing heat treatment tim and reaction products formed by interfacial reaction are mainly composed of $Al_3Ni$ and $Al_3Ni_2$ phases. The tensile strength of Ni/AC4C and Ni-Cr/AC4C composite is lower than the matrix metal and this can be explained by the brittle intermetallic compounds formed at the interface of Ni and Ni-Cr reinforcements. But the properies of hardness, wear resistance and thermal expansion are better than the matrix due to the strengthening effect of Ni-Cr porous metals.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 1993

Creep tests of the TiC particulate reinforced Al composite have been conducted in the temperature ranges from 200 to $500^{\circ}C$. The steady-state cree rate of the composite depended strongly on the temperature and ap' plied stress. The stress exponent for the steady state creep rate of the composites was approximately 17.5 and the activation anergy was calculated to be 390KJ/mol. The steady-state creep equation could be written as $\acute{\varepsilon}_{ss}$ $$(s^{-1})=1.5{\times}10^{-9}\;{\sigma}^{17.5}\exp(-390000/RT)$$. Fracture surface examination showed that the fracture mode of the particulate reinforced composite was ductile by plastic tearing of the aluminum matrix and TiC particle interfaces were offered as sites for crack.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.369-381
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• 1993

Aluminum alloy(AC8A) matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles(10% in vol.) were fabricated by Centrifugal Spray Deposition(CSD) process. The microstructures were investigated in order to evaluate both the mixing mode between aluminum matrix and SiC particles, and the effect of SiC particles on the cooling behaviours of droplets during flight and preforms deposited. A non-continuum mathematical calculation was performed to explain and to quantify the evolution of microstructures in the droplets and preforms deposited. Conclusions obtained are as follows; 1. The powders produced by CSD process showed, in general, ligament type, and more than 60% of the powders produced were about 300 to 850 um in size. 2. AC8A droplets solidified during flight showed fine dendritic structure, but AC8A droplets mixed with SiC particles showed fine equiaxed grain structure, and eutectic silicon were formed to crystallize granularly between fine aluminum grains. 3. SiC particles seem to act as a nucleation sites for pro-eutectic silicon during solidification of AC8A alloy. 4. The microstructure of composite powders formed by CSD process showed particle embedded type, and resulted in dispersed type microstructure in preforms deposited. 5. The pro-eutectic silicon crystallized granularly between fine aluminum grains seem to prohibit grains from growth during spray deposition process. 6. The interfacial reactions between aluminum matrix and SiC particles were not observed from the deposit performs and the solidified droplets. 7. The continuum model seem to be useful in connecting the processing parameters with the resultant microstructures. From these results, it was concluded that the fabrication of aluminum matrix composites reinforced homogeneously with SiC particles was possible.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.238-244
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• 2002

Water and oil were completely synthesised with ultrasonic vibration energy irradiation. Pure Pb were added into Al melt during irradiated the ultrasonic vibration energy in 750. And the ultrasonic vibration energy was applied to Al-Pb melt to enhance the miscibility. Microstructural analysis, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis were carried out to evaluate the effect of the ultrasonic vibration energy on the castability and microstructural reliability. (1) Using the ultrasonic vibration energy irradiation, the complete mixing of water and oil was obtained. (2) The microstructure was refined by the application of ultrasonic vibration energy in Al-Pb alloys. (3) Relatively large Pb particles, $5{\mu}m$ were most distributed alone the grain boundaries with fine Pb particles evenly distributed in the matrix. (4) The solubility of Ph in Al-Pb alloys was increases up to 5% with the application of ultrasonic vibration energy.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.84-84
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• 2003

The effects of Ti addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of (Al+Xat.%Ti)2at%B (X=0.5, 1, 2) fabricated by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering (SPS) were investigated. These alloys were prepared by high energy ball milling (attritor) and then fracture toughness was investigated by using a charpy impact tester. The SPS method was used to consolidate (Al+Xat.%Ti)fat.%B with the pressure of 50MPa. The powders were successfully consolidated to alloy which the theoretical density is 99%. It was confirmed that the fracture toughness of Al-Bat.% matrix composites was increased by the addition of Ti.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2009

A composite of rapidly solidified Al-6061 alloy powder with graphite particle reinforcements was prepared by ball milling and subsequent hot extrusion. The microstructure and mechanical properties of these composites were investigated as a function of milling time. With increasing milling time, the gas atomized initially and spherical powders became elongated with a maximum aspect ratio after milling for 30 h. Then, refinement and spheroidization were achieved by further milling to 70 h with a homogeneous and fine dispersion of graphite particles forming between the matrix alloy layers. The best compression and wear properties were obtained in the powder milled for 70 h, associated with the increased fine and homogeneous distribution of graphite particles in the aluminum alloy matrix.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.359-368
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• 1993

Mg-9wt.%Al and Mg-9wt.%-1.6wt%Zn/SiCp(particle size $40{\mu}m$) metal-matrix-composite specimens were manufactured by rheo-compocasting method, known for its effect of improving the wettability. The ceramic reinforcement particles(SiCp) were dispersed in the semi-solid magnesium alloy matrix slurry being vigorously stirred in a high frequency induction furnace under inert atmosphere. A microstructural study of the dispersed particles in the specimens, prepared under different conditions as regards the time(10min, 20min, 30min) and temperature of the stirring, was made with the aid of optical microscope and SEM. The effect of superheating was also observed. It is revealed that 30 minutes' stirring time of the semi-solid at 40% solid fraction temperature(Mg-9wt.%Al : $590^{\circ}C$, AZ91 : $576^{\circ}C$), as determined by the lever rule, gives a satisfactorily uniform distribution of the particles. The superheating is observed to enhance further the uniformity.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2012

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the endurance against Al alloy melts and wear resistance of an in-situ synthesized titanium matrix composite (TMC) sleeve for aluminum alloy die-casting. The conventional die-casting shot sleeve material was STD61 tool steel. TMCs have great thermal stability, wear and oxidation resistance. The in-situ reaction between Ti and $B_4C$ leads to two kinds of thermodynamically stable reinforcements, such as TiBw and TiCp. To evaluate the feasibility of the application to a TMCs diecasting shot sleeve, the interfacial reaction behavior was examined between Al alloys melts with TMCs and STD61 tool steel. The pin-on-disk type dry sliding wear test was also investigated for TMCs and STD61 tool steel.

• Composites Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.10-16
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• 2010

$Al_2O_3$ fiber and SiC particle hybrid metal matrix composites (MMCs) were manufactured by squeeze casting method investigated for their tribological properties. The pin specimens had different ratios of fiber to particle content but their total weight fraction was constant at 20 wt. %. Tribological tests were performed with a pin-on-disk friction and wear tester. The investigation of the dry tribological characteristics of hybrid MMCs were carried out at room temperature and elevated temperature of$100^{\circ}C$ and$150^{\circ}C$. The morphologies of worn surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe tribological characteristics and investigate wear behavior. The results revealed that the wear resistance improved with the content of SiCp increased of the planar random (PR) MMCs at room temperature. At the elevated temperature, it revealed that the wear resistance of normal (N) MMCs was superior to that of the PR-MMCs due to PR-fibers were easily pulled out holistically from the worn surface. Meanwhile, the coefficient of friction decreased with the temperature increasing.