• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2024

In order to evade the premature failure of super duplex stainless steels (SDSSs) in some harsh environments, the increase of their mechanical properties is a promising approach. In this study, based on the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique, SDSS matrix composites without post heat treatment were fabricated by using the powder mixture of SDSSs, super austenitic stainless steels (SASSs) and micron-sized TiC particles. Many in-situ TiC_xN_y nanoparticles were found to be formed by using micron-sized TiC particles in as-built composites, and both fine ferrite and austenite grains were generated. The as-built composites exhibited an excellent combination of high ultimate tensile strength (UTS) (~1066 MPa) and good uniform elongation (UE) (~15.6%), showing a better mechanical property compared with other reported LPBF-fabricated SDSSs, which was mainly attributed to the fine grain, Orowan and dislocation strengthening mechanisms. In particular, the successful fabrication of SDSS matrix composites can set the stage for producing high-performance metallic parts via LPBF technique.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.357-362
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• 2008

The 2-step low temperature plasma processes (the combined carburizing and post-nitriding) were carried out for improving both the surface hardness and corrosion resistance of AISI 316L stainless steel. The effects of processing time and temperature on the surface properties during nitriding step were investigated. The expanded austenite (${\gamma}_N$) was formed on all of the treated surface. The thickness of ${\gamma}_N$ was increased up to about $20{\mu}m$ and the thickness of entire hardened layer was determined to be about $40{\mu}m$. The surface hardness reached up to $1,200HV_{0.1}$ which is about 5 times higher than that of untreated sample ($250HV_{0.1}$). The thickness of ${\gamma}_N$ and concentration of N on the surface were increased with increasing processing time and temperature. The corrosion resistance in 2-step low temperature plasma processed austenitic stainless steels was enhanced more than that in the untreated austenitic stainless steels due to a high concentration of N on the surface.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.125-130
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• 2008

Conventional plasma carburizing or nitriding for austenitic stainless steels results in a degradation of corrosion resistance. However, a low temperature plasma surface treatment can improve surface hardness without deteriorating the corrosion resistance. The 2-step low temperature plasma processes (the combined carburizing and post nitriding) offers the increase of both surface hardness and thickness of hardened layer and corrosion resistance than the individually processed low temperature nitriding and low temperature carburizing techniques. In the present paper, attempts have been made to investigate the influence of the introduction of Ar gas (0~20%) in nitriding atmosphere during low temperature plasma nitriding at $370^{\circ}C$ after low temperature plasma carburizing at $470^{\circ}C$. All treated specimens exhibited the increase of the surface hardness with increasing Ar level in the atmosphere and the surface hardness value reached up to 1050 HV0.1, greater than 750 $HV_{0.1}$ in the carburized state. The expanded austenite phase (${\gamma}_N$) was observed on the most of the treated surfaces. The thickness of the ${\gamma}_N$ layer reached about $7{\mu}m$ for the specimen treated in the nitriding atmosphere containing 20% Ar. In case of 10% Ar containing atmosphere, the corrosion resistance was significantly enhanced than untreated austenitic stainless steels, whilst 20% Ar level in the atmosphere caused to form CrN in the N-enriched layer (${\gamma}_N$), which led to the degradation of corrosion resistance compared with untreated austenitic stainless steels.

• CORROSION AND PROTECTION
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2013

Austenitic stainless steels and Ni-base alloys are widely used as structural materials for major components and piping system in pressurized water reactors (PWRs). These austenitic alloys are known to be susceptible to environmental assisted cracking (EAC), such as environmentally-assisted fatigue (EAF) and primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) during long-term exposure to PWR primary water environment. In this paper, the current understanding on the phenomena and mechanisms of these EAC are briefly introduced using experimental results and literature review. The mechanisms for EAF and PWSCC for austenitic stainless steels and Ni-base alloys are discussed. Currently, austenitic stainless steels are known to be more susceptible to EAF, while less susceptible to PWSCC than Ni-base alloys. The possible explanations to such behaviors are proposed and discussed in view of the role of hydrogen and internal oxidation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 1999.08a
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• pp.366-372
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• 1999

The deformation behavior of commercial stainless steels under hot rolling conditions was investigated by means of hot compression tests performed in the temperature range 800$^{\circ}C$ to 1200$^{\circ}C$. The measured flow stress-strain curves were analyzed by using a simple flow stress model. It was found that the reference strength of stainless steels are much higher than that of carbon steel and that nitrogen and molybdenum alloying greatly increases flow stress of austenitic stainless steel. Ferritic and duplex stainless steel showed comparatively low flow stresses. The flow stress model, which correlates the flow stress with temperature and strain rate, was applied to predict roll forces during hot-plate rolling of stainless steels.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.338-343
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• 2008

The electrochemical properties of W-modified austenitic stainless steels containing Ta and La were evaluated in a $H_{3}PO_{4}$ type PEMFC environment. Electrochemical test was conducted in 0.05 M $H_{3}PO_{4}$ solution at $80^{\circ}C$ and electrical property was conducted by contact resistance test. XPS was conducted to analyze the chemical elements consisting of passive film. Addition of La and Ta in W-modified austenitic stainless steel shows not only better corrosion resistance but also better electrical property.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.153-159
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• 2006

Austenitic stainless steels with addition of various amounts of Mo and W were evaluated in terms of corrosion and contact resistance to determine optimum alloy composition of metallic bipolar plate for PEMFC. The corrosion property was evaluated by both acid fume exposure test at $130^{\circ}C$ and by electrochemical polarization tests in $H_3PO_4$ solution at $80^{\circ}C$. Austenitic stainless steel with proper amount of Mo and W demonstrated not only good corrosion resistance but also low contact resistance. Analyses on the passive film show that partial substitution of Mo by W enhances passive film stability and repassivation property. Test results suggest that austenitic stainless steel with 2 wt%Mo and 4 wt%W has optimum composition for metallic bipolar plate used in PEMFC.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.324-327
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• 2008

Stainless steels have been widely used as a building exterior materials in Asian countries for the last decade. It is required for the materials in this field to have an aesthetic appearance, a relatively high strength, and an excellent corrosion resistance. Other metallic materials such as copper, aluminum, and carbon steels have been also used as the exterior materials. Considering the cost of maintenance, stainless steel, having the outstanding corrosion resistance, is replacing other materials in the several parts in the building exteriors. Ferritic stainless steel has been applied as the roofing materials because its thermal expansion is much smaller than that of austenitic stainless steel. Therefore, it is suitable for the large-scale construction such as airport terminal, convention center, and football stadium. To improve the corrosion resistance of the ferritic stainless steels, the modification of alloy composition has been studied to develop new grade materials and the progress in the surface technology has been introduced. Corrosion properties of these materials were evaluated in the laboratory and in the field for longer than two years. High-Cr ferritic stainless steel showed excellent corrosion resistance to the atmospheric environments. In the region close to the sea, the corrosion resistance of high-Cr ferritic stainless steel was much superior to that of other materials, which may prove this steel to be the appropriate materials for the construction around seashore. In some of the large constructions around seashore in South Korea, high-Cr ferritic stainless steels have been used as the building exterior materials for six years.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.466-474
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• 2021

A wet type scrubber for merchant vessel uses super austenitic stainless steels with pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) of 40 or higher for operation in a harsh corrosive environment. However, it is expensive due to a high nickel content. Thus, electrochemical behavior and cavitation erosion characteristics of UNS S32750 as an alternative material were investigated. Microstructure analysis revealed fractions of ferritic and austenitic phases of 48% and 52%, respectively, confirming the existence of ferritic matrix and austenitic island. Potentiodynamic polarization test revealed damage at the interface of the two phases because of galvanic corrosion due to different chemical compositions of ferritic and austenitic phases. After a cavitation test, a compressive residual stress was formed on the material surface due to impact pressure of cavity. Surface hardness was improved by water cavitation peening effect. Hardness value was the highest at 30 ㎛ amplitude. Scanning electron microscopy revealed wave patterns due to plastic deformation caused by impact pressure of the cavity. The depth of surface damage increased with amplitude. Cavitation test revealed larger damage caused by erosion in the ferritic phase due to brittle fracture derived from different strain rate sensitivity index of FCC and BCC structures.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.555-565
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• 2023

Despite many advantages as structural materials, austenitic stainless steels (SSs) have been avoided in many next generation nuclear systems due to poor void swelling resistance. In this paper, we report the results of heavy ion irradiation to the recently developed advanced radiation resistant austenitic SS (ARES-6P) with nanosized NbC precipitates. Heavy ion irradiation was performed at high temperatures (500 ℃ and 575 ℃) to the damage level of ~200 displacement per atom (dpa). The measured void swelling of ARES-6P was 2-3%, which was considerably less compared to commercial 316 SS and comparable to ferritic martensitic steels. In addition, increment of hardness measured by nano-indentation was much smaller for ARES-6P compared to 316 SS. Though some nanosized NbC precipitates were dissociated under relatively high dose rate (~5.0 × 10^-4 dpa/s), sufficient number of NbC precipitates remained to act as sink sites for the point defects, resulting in such superior radiation resistance.