• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.105-112
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• 2013

The microstructural changes of Fe-20Mn-12Cr-1Cu alloy have been studied during high temperature gas nitriding (HTGN) at the range of $1000^{\circ}C{\sim}1150^{\circ}C$ in an atmosphere of nitrogen gas. The mixed microstructure of austenite and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite of as-received alloy was changed to austenite single phase after HTGN treatment at the nitrogen-permeated surface layer, however the interior region that was not affected nitrogen permeation remained the structure of austenite and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite. With raising the HTGN treatment temperature, the concentration and permeation depth of nitrogen, which is known as the austenite stabilizing element, were increased. Accordingly, the depth of austenite single phase region was increased. The outmost surface of HTGN treated alloy at $1000^{\circ}C$ appeared Cr nitride. And this was in good agreement with the thermodynamically calculated phase diagram. The grain growth was delayed after HTGN treatment temperature ranges of $1000^{\circ}C{\sim}1100^{\circ}C$ due to the grain boundary precipitates. For the HTGN treatment temperature of $1150^{\circ}C$, the fine grain region was shown at the near surface due to the grain boundary precipitates, however, owing to the depletion of grain boundary precipitates, coarse grain was appeared at the depth far from the surface. This depletion may come from the strong affinity between nitrogen and substitutional element of Al and Ti leading the diffusion of these elements from interior to surface. Because of the nitrogen dissolution at the nitrogen-permeated surface layer by HTGN treatment, the surface hardness was increased above 150 Hv compared to the interior region that was consisted with the mixed microstructure of austenite and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 2012

Hot ductility behavior of precipitation-hardened low-carbon iron alloys containing 0.02 wt% Ti and 0.05 wt% Nb was characterized by a hot tensile stress test. Carbon (0.05, 0.1, 0.25 wt%) and boron (0.002 wt%) contents were varied to study the effect of precipitates on the high-temperature embrittlement of the alloys in the temperature range of $600{\sim}800^{\circ}C$. Ductility loss was observed at $700^{\circ}C$ for the tested alloys. The cause of the ductility loss was mainly attributed to the carbides and ferrite films formed at the grain boundaries during deformation. Although the carbon content tended to raise the total fraction of Nb (C, N), the precipitates were formed mostly in the grain interior as the precipitation temperature was raised above the deformation temperature by the high carbon content. Hence, carbon in excess suppressed the hot ductility loss. Meanwhile, boron addition improved the hot ductility of the alloys. The improvement is likely due to the boron atoms capturing carbon atoms and thus retarding the carbide formation.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2011

Precipitation behavior of high-nitrogen duplex Fe-24Cr-7Mn-4Ni-4Mo-0.43N stainless steel aged at $850^{\circ}C$ was investigated using scanning transmission electron microscopy. Based on the analyses of selected area diffraction patterns, four kinds of precipitates (intermetallic sigma (${\sigma}$) and chi (${\chi}$), $Cr_2N$ and secondary austenite) were identified. At the ferrite/austenite phase boundary, the ${\sigma}$ phase and secondary austenite were formed via ${\alpha}{\rightarrow}{\gamma}+{\sigma}$ eutectoid reaction. The precipitation of $Cr_2N$ occurred at the austenite grain boundary as well as the interior of the ferrite. The intermetallic ${\chi}$ phase also formed within the ferrite and showed a cube-cube orientation relationship with the ferrite. Further aging produced a lamellar structure composed of $Cr_2N$ and austenite along the ferrite/austenite boundary and enhanced the precipitation of the ${\chi}$ phase. The crystallographic features of the precipitates were also examined in terms of the orientation relationship with the austenite or ferrite matrix.

• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.343-349
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• 2016

This experiment was carried out to examine whether the post-firing heat treatment is effective in increasing the hardness of metal-ceramic alloy of the Pd-Au-Ag-Sn system. Precipitation hardening by holding at $600^{\circ}C$ after simulated complete porcelain firing in a metal-ceramic alloy of the Pd-Au-Ag-Sn system was examined by observing the change in hardness, crystal structure, and microstructure using a hardness test, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The hardness of the alloy increased apparently by holding the specimen at $600^{\circ}C$ for 30 min after simulated complete porcelain firing. The formation of fine grain interior precipitates during holding at $600^{\circ}C$ caused the formation of lattice strain in the grain interior, resulting in apparent hardening. The faster cooling rate (stage 0) during simulated complete porcelain firing resulted in more effective precipitation hardening during holding at $600^{\circ}C$. From the above results, an appropriate post-firing heat treatment, such as holding at $600^{\circ}C$ for 30 min after complete porcelain firing may increase the durability of metal-ceramic prostheses composed of Pd-Au-Ag-Sn alloy.

• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.95-106
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• 2015

Hardening mechanism associated with post-firing heat treatment of softening heat treated and then firing simulated Pd-Ag-Au alloy for bonding porcelain was examined by observing the change in hardness, crystal structure and microstructure. By post-firing heat treatment of as-cast, solution treated and pre-firing heat treated specimens at $650^{\circ}C$ after casting, the hardness value increased within 10 minutes. Then, hardness consistently increased until 30 minutes, and gap of hardness value among the specimens was reduced. The increase in hardness after post-firing heat treatment was caused by grain interior precipitation in the matrix. The softening heat treatment did not affect the increase in hardness by post-firing heat treatment. The precipitated phase from the parent Pd-Ag-Au-rich ${\alpha}$ phase with face-centered cubic structure by post-firing heat treatment was $Pd_3$(Sn, In) phase with face-centered tetragonal structure, which has lattice parameters of $a_{200}=4.0907{\AA}$, $c_{002}=3.745{\AA}$. From above results, appropriate post-firing heat treatment in order to support the hardness of Pd-Ag-Au metal substructure was expected to bring positive effects to durability of the prosthesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.377-383
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• 2016

The effect of long-term aging degradation on magnetic properties of ferritic 11Cr low-carbon steel was investigated. Coercivity and hysteresis loss measured from the hysteresis loops decreased with long-term aging time and showed that the relation was well fitted by a second order exponential function. Vickers hardness also decreased with aging time and resulted in mechanical softening. In addition, the microstructural evolution was observed by the scanning electron microscopy, backscattered electron image and X-ray diffraction. The $Cr_{23}C_6$ precipitates along grain boundary grew fast and Laves ($Fe_2W$) phase on martensitic lath boundaries in interior grains was developed. The solid solution atoms depleted in matrix and lath subgrains recovered owing to precipitate coarsening with long-term aging degradation. There was a close relation with softening of magnetic and mechanical properties.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2006

A basic research was conducted on the mineral weathering and geochemical characteristics in the KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel), which was recently constructed at a site in KAERI. Some rock samples exposed during the KURT construction were examined using a microscope and chemical analysis for some micro-changes of the rocks caused by the chemical weathering. The weathered granite has some small and fine cracks around the rock-forming minerals. In particular, there are a characteristic weathering of feldspar mineral and a preferential leaching of Ca component from the mineral dissolution. In addition, by the dissolution of biotite containing $Fe^{2+}$ component there were iron-oxides precipitates as secondary products into the microcracks of around minerals. The results also show that the micro-cracks initiated from the mineral interior are extended and connected into the larger cracks along the grain boundary with the progress of the weathering. Thus, it is considered that some chemicals dissolved from the fresh rock would be involved in the formation of secondary minerals and migrate interacting with them.