• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.97-111
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• 2022

In the present article, silica nanoparticles (SNPs) were exploited to improve the tribological and mechanical properties of vinyl ester/glass fiber composites. To the best of our knowledge, there hasn't been any prior study on the wear properties of glass fiber reinforced vinyl ester SiO₂ nanocomposites. The wear resistance is a critical concern in many industries which needs to be managed effectively to reduce high costs. To examine the influence of SNPs on the mechanical properties, seven different weight percentages of vinyl ester/nano-silica composites were initially fabricated. Afterward, based on the tensile testing results of the silica nanocomposites, four wt% of SNPs were selected to fabricate a ternary composite composed of vinyl ester/glass fiber/nano-silica using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding. At the next stage, the tensile, three-point flexural, Charpy impact, and pin-on-disk wear tests were performed on the ternary composites. The fractured surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images after conducting previous tests. The most important and interesting result of this study was the development of a nanocomposite that exhibited a 52.2% decrease in the mean coefficient of friction (COF) by augmenting the SNPs, which is beneficial for the fabrication/repair of composite/steel energy pipelines as well as hydraulic and pneumatic pipe systems conveying abrasive materials. Moreover, the weight loss due to wearing the ternary composite containing one wt% of SNPs was significantly reduced by 70%. Such enhanced property of the fabricated nanocomposite may also be an important design factor for marine structures, bridges, and transportation of wind turbine blades.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.520-525
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• 2014

Effects of Cu and B on effective grain size and low-temperature toughness of thermo-mechanically processed high-strength bainitic steels were investigated in this study. The microstructure of the steel specimens was analyzed using optical, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy; their effective grain size was also characterized by electron back-scattered diffraction. To evaluate the strength and low-temperature toughness, tensile and Charpy impact tests were carried out. The specimens were composed of various low-temperature transformation products such as granular bainite (GB), degenerated upper bainite (DUB), lower bainite (LB), and lath marteniste (LM), dependent on the addition of Cu and B. The addition of Cu slightly increased the yield and tensile strength, but substantially deteriorated the low-temperature toughness because of the higher volume fraction of DUB with a large effective grain size. The specimen containing both Cu and B had the highest strength, but showed worse low-temperature toughness of higher ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) and lower absorbed energy because it mostly consisted of LB and LM. In the B-added specimen, on the other hand, it was possible to obtain the best combination of high strength and good low-temperature toughness by decreasing the overall effective grain size via the appropriate formation of different low-temperature transformation products containing GB, DUB, and LB/LM.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.62-66
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• 2015

Considering for plants and structure under extreme conditions is required for the successful design, especially temperature and pressure. The ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) for the materials under extreme condition needs to be considered. In this study, A-grade mild steel for the LNG carrier and offshore plant was examined by performing low-temperature Charpy V-notch (CVN) impact tests to investigate DBTT and the fracture toughness. The absorbed energy decreased gradually with the experimental temperature, which showed an upper-shelf energy region, lower shelf energy region, and transition temperature indicating DBTT. In addition, the fracture surface morphologies of the mild steels indicated ductile fractures at the upper-shelf energy level, with wide and large-sized dimples, whereas a brittle fracture surface, where was observed at the lower-shelf energy level, with both large and small cleavage facets. Based on the experimental results, ductile brittle transition temperature was estimated in about $-60^{\circ}C$.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.518-524
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• 2016

The thermal aging effects on mechanical properties and microstructures in China low-activation martensitic steel have been tested by aging at $550^{\circ}C$ for 2,000 hours, 4,000 hours, and 10,000 hours. The microstructure was analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the grain size and martensitic lath increased by about $4{\mu}m$ and $0.3{\mu}m$, respectively, after thermal exposure at $550^{\circ}C$ for 10,000 hours. MX type particles such as TaC precipitated on the matrix and Laves-phase was found on the martensitic lath boundary and grain boundary on aged specimens. The mechanical properties were investigated with tensile and Charpy impact tests. Tensile properties were not seriously affected by aging. Neither yield strength nor ultimate tensile strength changed significantly. However, the ductile-brittle transition temperature of China low-activation martensitic steel increased by $46^{\circ}C$ after aging for 10,000 hours due to precipitation and grain coarsening.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.47-54
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• 2020

A brittle fracture is one of the source of structural damage and can bring a fatal accident. The inner shell of LNG storage tank should be designed and applied to construction by ensure that no brittle crack will occur under -162℃ condition. In point of view of fracture mechanics brittle fracture in the structure could be referred as crack initiation and crack arrest. It should be designed no crack initiation. However, in the unlikely event of a brittle fracture occurring, a back-up function of arresting the brittle crack should be included for the design. In this paper investigated the characteristics of 9% Ni steel thick plates of having a capability of arresting brittle cracks under the thickness of 33 mm, 37mm, 40 mm. First, charpy test has performed to evaluate the fundamental brittle impact fracture property of 9% Ni steel under the temperature of 24℃, -162℃ and -196℃. In addition, Duplex ESSO tests were also performed under -196℃ to evaluate the capability of crack arrest for 9% Ni steel. From the experiments results, it was confirmed that all the thickness of 9% Ni steel plates exhibits sufficient brittle crack arrest fracture toughness for the application of LNG storage tank as a inner shell.