• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.258-263
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• 2019

Since the directly bonded interface between TiAl alloy and SCM440 includes lots of cracks and generated intermetallic compounds(IMCs) such as TiC, FeTi, and $Fe_2Ti$, the interfacial strength can be significantly reduced. Therefore, in this study, Cu is selected as an insert metal to improve the lower tensile strength of the joint between TiAl alloy and SCM440 during friction welding. As a result, newly formed IMCs, such as $Cu_2TiAl$, CuTiAl, and $TiCu_2$, are found at the interface between TiAl alloy and Cu layer and the thickness of IMCs layers is found to vary with friction time. In addition, to determine the relationship between the thickness of the IMCs and the strength of the welded interfaces, a tensile test was performed using sub-size specimens obtained from the center to the peripheral region of the friction-welded interface. The results are discussed in terms of changes in the IMCs and the underlying deformation mechanism. Finally, it is found that the friction welding process needs to be idealized because IMCs generated between TiAl alloy and Cu act to not only increase the bonding strength but also form an easy path of fracture propagation.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2022

This study investigates the interfacial reaction between powder-metallurgy high-entropy alloys (HEAs) and cast aluminum. HEA pellets are produced by the spark plasma sintering of Al_0.5CoCrCu_0.5FeNi HEA powder. These sintered pellets are then placed in molten Al, and the phases formed at the interface between the HEA pellets and cast Al are analyzed. First, Kirkendall voids are observed due to the difference in the diffusion rates between the liquid Al and solid HEA phases. In addition, although Co, Fe, and Ni atoms, which have low mixing enthalpies with Al, diffuse toward Al, Cu atoms, which have a high mixing enthalpy with Al, tend to form Al-Cu intermetallic compounds. These results provide guidelines for designing Al matrix composites containing high-entropy phases.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.337-346
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• 2022

In order to optimize the solution treatment conditions of Al-7Si-(0.3~0.5)Mg-(0~0.5)Cu alloys, a series of heat treatment experiments were conducted under various solution treatment times up to 7 hours at 545℃, followed by a microstructural analysis using optical microscopy, FE-SEM, and Brinell hardness measurements. Rapid coarsening of eutectic Si particles was observed in the alloys during the first 3 hours of solution treatment but the size of those Si particles did not change at longer solution treatment conditions. Meanwhile, the degree of spheroidisation of eutectic Si particles increased until the solution treatment time was increased up to 7 hours. Q-Al5Cu2Mg8Si6 andθ-Al2Cu were observed in as-cast Cu-containing Al alloys but the intermetallic compounds were dissolved completely after 3 hours of solution treatment at 545℃. Depending on the initial Mg composition of the Al alloys, π-Al8FeMg3Si either disappeared in the alloy with 0.3wt% of Mg content after 5 hours of solution treatment or remained in the alloy with 0.5wt% of Mg content after 7 hours of solution treatment time. Mg and Cu content in the primary-α phase of the Al alloys increased until the solution treatment time reached 5 hours, which was in accordance with the dissolution behavior of Mg or Cu-containing intermetallic compounds with respect to the solution treatment time. From the results of microstructural changes in the Al-7Si-Mg-Cu alloys during solution treatment, it was concluded that at least 5 hours of solution treatment at 545℃ is required to maximize the age hardening effect of the present Al alloys. The same optimal solution treatment conditions could also be derived from Brinell hardness values of the present Al-7Si-Mg-Cu alloys measured at different solution treatment conditions.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.538-542
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• 2014

Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of Al-6Si-2Cu alloy for lightweight automotive parts were investigated. The test specimens were prepared by gravity casting process. Solution heat treatments were applied to as-cast alloys to improve mechanical properties. The microstructure of the gravity casting specimen presents a typical dendrite structure, having a secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) of $37{\mu}m$. In addition to the Al matrix, a large amount of coarsened eutectic Si, $Al_2Cu$ intermetallic phase, and Fe-rich phases were identified. After solution heat treatment, single-step solution heat treatments were found to considerably improve the spheroidization of the eutectic Si phase. Two-step solution treatments gave rise to a much improved spheroidization. The mechanical properties of the two-step solution heat treated alloy have been shown to lead to higher values of properties such as tensile strength and microhardness. Consequentially, the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of Al alloy have been successfully characterized and are available for use with other basic data for the development of lightweight automotive parts.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 1997

This study has been carried out to investigate into the influence of solidification conditions mold on the structure and mechanical properties of Al-5wt%Mg alloy by metallic mold casting. The percentage of equiaxed grain of Al-5wt%Mg alloy castings increased both when pouring temperature decreased and when the low part or bottom of metallic mold was cooled. The hardness was checked and showed that hardness of outside in the castings was higher than that inside, and that it is the highest at the pouring temperature of $680^{\circ}C$. The castings had the highest U.T.S. and elongation when the bottom of metallic mold was cooled. At the same pouring temperature, the structure of castings was changed as the position of cooling parts of metallic mold was varied. When the castings were solidified through cooling of the bottom of the metallic mold, the morphology of Fe intermetallic compound has tendency to change to a Chinese script and the U.T.S. and elongation of Al-5wt.%Mg alloy castings was increased.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.85-92
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• 2011

Microstructures and tensile properties in arc brazed joints of ferritic stainless steel, 429EM using Cu-8.6%Al insert metal was investigated as function of brazing current. The brazing speed was fixed at 800mm/min and brazing current varied in the range of 80A to 120A. The initial phase of filler metal was Cu single phase. However, the insert metal structures of brazed joints was composed of Cu matrix and intermetallic compound such as ${\gamma}_1(Al_4Cu_9)$, and flower-shape Fe-Cr. The fraction of ${\gamma}_1(Al_4Cu_9)$ phase was similar with 80A and 100A brazing currents while that of brazed with 120A was decreased. On the other hand, the fraction of Fe-Cr phase increased with increasing of the brazing current. A reaction layer at the base metal/insert metal interface was observed and this reaction layer was thickened with increasing of the brazing current. In the brazed joints with the current lower than 100A, crack was grew up along the interface which was perpendicular to the tensile stress, and then, passed through the insert metal in the final stage of fracture. As the brazing current increased to 120A, fracture occurred at the base metal.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.107-115
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• 1999

The objective of this research was to study the formation of the thick hardened layer with the addition of metal powder(Cu) and ceramics powders(TiC) on the aluminum 5083 alloys by plasma transferred arc process(PTA process) and to characterize the effect of overlaying conditions on the overlaid layer formation. This was followed by investigating the microstructures of the overlaid layers and mechanical properties such as hardness and wear resistance. The overlaid layer containing copper powder was alloyed and intermetallic compound($CuAl_2$) was formed. The overlaid layers with high melting point TiC powders, however, did not react with base metal. Wear resistance of the alloyed layer was remarkably improved by the formation of $CuAl_2$, precipitate phase, which prevented wear of base aluminum alloys and at higher wear speed, accelerated sliding of the counter part. Wear resistance of the composite layer was also remarkably improved because TiC powder act as a load barring element and Fe debris fragments detached from the counter part act as a solid lubricant on the contact surface.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.306-313
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• 2017

This study investigated the microstructure, tensile strength, and high cycle fatigue properties of ADC12 aluminum alloys with different $Mg+Al_2Ca$ contents manufactured using die casting process. Microstructural observation identified the presence of ${\alpha}-Al$, eutectic Si, $Al_2Cu$, and Fe-intermetallic phases. The increase of $Mg+Al_2Ca$ content resulted in finer pore size and decreased pore distribution. Room temperature tensile strength tests were conducted at strain rate of $1{\times}10^{-3}/sec$. For 0.6%Mg ADC12, measured UTS, YS, and El were 305.2MPa, 157.0MPa, and 2.7%, respectively. For 0.8%Mg ADC12, measured UTS, YS, and El were 311.2 MPa, 159.4 MPa, and 2.4%, respectively. Therefore, 0.8% ADC12 alloy had higher strength and slightly decreased elongation compared to 0.6% Mg ADC12. High cycle fatigue tests revealed that 0.6% Mg ADC12 alloy had a fatigue limit of 150 MPa while 0.8% Mg ADC12 had a fatigue limit of 160MPa. It was confirmed that $Mg+Al_2Ca$ added ADC12 alloy achieved finer, spherical eutectic Si particles, and $Al_2Cu$ phases with greater mechanical and fatigue properties since size and distribution of pores and shrinkage cavities decreased as $Mg+Al_2Ca$ content increased.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2020

In this study, the effects of Sm addition (0, 0.05, 0.2, 0.5 wt%) on the microstructure, hardness, and electrical and thermal conductivity of Al-11Si-1.5Cu aluminum alloy were investigated. As a result of Sm addition, increment in the amount of α-Al and refinement of primary Si from 70 to 10 ㎛ were observed due to eutectic temperature depression. On the other hand, Sm was less effective at refining eutectic Si because of insufficient addition. The phase analysis results indicated that Sm-rich intermetallic phases such as Al-Fe-Mg-Si and Al-Si-Cu formed and led to decrements in the amount of primary Si and eutectic Si. These microstructure changes affected not only the hardness but also the electrical and thermal conductivity. When 0.5 wt% Sm was added to the alloy, hardness increased from 84.4 to 91.3 Hv, and electric conductivity increased from 15.14 to 16.97 MS/m. Thermal conductivity greatly increased from 133 to 157 W/m·K.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.189-191
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• 2005

Dissimilar joining of AI 6013-T4 alloys and austenite stainless steel was carried out using friction stir welding technique. Microstructures near the weld zone and mechanical properties of the joint have been investigated. Microstructures in the stainless steel side and AI alloy were depended on the thermo-mechanical condition which they received. TEM micrographs revealed that the interface region was composed of the mixed layers of elongated stainless steel and ultra-fine grained AI alloy and intermetallic compound layer which was identified as the $Al_{4}Fe$ with hexagonal close packed structure. Mechanical properties were lower than those of 6013 AI alloy base metal, because tool inserting location was deviated to AI alloy from the butt line, which resulted in the lack of the stirring.