• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.128-132
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• 2007

[ $B_4C$ ] ceramics were fabricated by spark plasma sintering process and their sintering behavior, microstructure and mechanical properties were evaluated. Relative density of $B_4C$ ceramics were obtained by spark plasma sintering method reached as high as 99% at lower temperature than conventional sintering method, in addition, without any sintering additives. The mechanical properties of $B_4C$ ceramics was improved by a methanol washing process which can be removed $B_2O_3$ phase from a $B_4C$ powder surface. This improvement results ken the formation of homogeneous microstructure because the grain coarsening was suppressed by the elimination of $B_2O_3$ phase. Particularly, fracture toughness of the sintered specimen using a methanol washed powder improved over 30% compared with the specimen using an as-received commercial powder.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.328-335
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to develop fiber reinforced cement matrix composite (ECC) produced with limestone powder in order to achieve high ductility of the composite, and to evaluate flexural performance of structural members made with ECC. Four kinds of mixture proportions were determined on the basis of the micromechanics and a steady state cracking theory considering the matrix fracture toughness and fiber-matrix interfacial characteristics. The mechanical properties of ECC, represented by strain-hardening behavior in uniaxial tension, were investigated. Also, strength property of the composite was experimentally evaluated. Two structural members made with ECC were produced and tested. Test results were compared with those of conventional concrete structural members. Increased limestone powder contents of ECC provides higher ductility of the composites while generally resulting in a lower strength property. ECC structural members exhibited higher flexural ductility, higher flexural load-carrying capacity and tighter crack width compared to conventional structural members.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.465-472
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• 1990

The effects of Al2O3 and Cr2O3 addition on the mechanical properties and microstructures of Y-TZP ceramics obtained by co-precipitation method of ZrO2＋3m/o Y2O3, following pressureless sintering at 150$0^{\circ}C$ for 2h were investigated. The addition of Al2O3 and Cr2O3 improved the Y-TZP sinterability and the Al2O3 addition showed the better effect on Y-TZP sintering than that of the Cr2O3 addition. The density and microstructure had the better effect on the bending strength of specimen more than stressinduced phase transformation (SIPT) of ZrO2 from tetragonal to monoclinic phase. The hardness of the specimens was found to be depend on the relative density and the fracture toughness of Y-TZP was found to rely on the amount of SIPT. The grian size of Cr2O3-doped Y-TZP was observed to be relatively smaller and had a narrower distribution than that of Al2O3-doped Y-TZP. If decomposition reaction of Cr2O3 can be controlled at high temperatures, it is anticipated that the mechanical properties of Y-TZP can be much improved by the Cr2O3 addition.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.1127-1132
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• 2013

The failure of reactor internals may have a significant effect on the safe operation and shutdown of a reactor. Various agings related to neutron irradiation occur or can potentially occur in the reactor internals owing to high neutron irradiation levels. Austenitic stainless steel, one of the principal materials constituting the reactor internals, shows different mechanical material behaviors such as tensile/creep properties and fracture toughness with neutron irradiation levels. This variation should be considered when the structural integrity of the reactor internals against agings during the design lifetime or continued operation period is evaluated. In this study, user subroutine programs considering the variation of mechanical material behaviors with neutron irradiation levels were developed. The programs were validated by testing them for various conditions.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.444-449
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• 2010

Transparent ceramics are used in new technology because of their excellent mechanical properties over glasses. Transparent ceramics are nowadays widely used in armor, laser windows, and in high temperature applications. Silicon nitride ceramics have excellent mechanical properties and if transparent silicon nitride is fabricated, it can be widely used. h-BN has a lubricating property and is ductile. Therefore, adding h-BN to silicon nitride ceramics gives a lubricating property and is also machinable. Translucent silicon nitride was fabricated by hot-press sintering (HPS) and 57% transmittance was observed in the near infrared region. A higher wt. % of h-BN in silicon nitride ceramics does not favor transparency. The optical, mechanical, and tribological properties of BN dispersed polycrystalline $Si_3N_4$ ceramics were affected by the density, ${\alpha}:{\beta}$-phase ratio, and content of h-BN in sintered ceramics. The hot pressed samples were prepared from the mixture of $\alpha-Si_3N_4$, AlN, MgO, and h-BN at $1850^{\circ}C$. The composite contained from 0.25 to 2 wt. % BN powder with sintering aids (9% AlN + 3% MgO). A maximum transmittance of 57% was achieved for the 0.25 wt. % BN doped $Si_3N_4$ ceramics. Fracture toughness increased and wear volume and the friction coefficient decreased with an increase in BN content. The properties such as transmittance, density, hardness, and flexural strength decreased with an increase in content of h-BN in silicon nitride ceramics.

• Composites Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.31-37
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• 2005

In this work, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning to prepare the nanofibers-reinforced composites. And the PEO powders-impregnated composites were also prepared to compare the mechanical interfacial behaviors of the composites. Morphology and fiber diameter of PEO nanofibers were determined by SEM observation. Mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were investigated in fracture toughness $(K_{IC})$ and interlaminar shea. strength (ILSS) tests. As a result, the fiber diameter was decreased with increasing the applied voltage. And optimum condition for the fiber formation was 15 kV, resulting from increasing of jet instability at high voltage. The PEO-based nanofibers-reinforced epoxy composites showed the improvements of both $K_{IC}$ and ILSS, compared to the composites impregnated with PEO powders. These results indicated that the nanofibers had higher specific surface area and larger aspect ratio than those of the powders, which played an important role in improving the mechanical interfacial properties of the composites.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.991-1003
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• 1990

A precipitation method, one of the most effective liquid phase reaction methods, was adopted in order to prepare high-tech Al2O3/ZrO2 composite ceramics. Al2(SO4)3.18H2O, ZrOCl2.8H2O and YCl3.6H2O were used as starting materials and NH4OH as a precipitation agent, various types of metal hydroxides were obtained by single precipitation(series A) and co-precipitation(series B) method at the pH condition between 7 and 11. Fine Al2O3-ZrO2 powders were prepared at optimum calcination condition and the effects of ZrO2 on microstructures and mechanical properties of Al2O3 were investigated. The composition of Al2O3/ZrO2 composites wax fixed as Al2O3-15 v/o ZrO2(＋3m/o Y2O3). ZrO2 limited the grain growth of Al2O3 and increased grain size homogeneity of Al2O3 more effectively than MgO.Flexural strength values in Al2O3 and Al2O3/ZrO2 composites were 340-430 MPa and 540-820 MPa, respectively, and the effect of strength improvement showed 20-50% by adding ZrO2 to Al2O3. Fracture toughness of Al2O3/ZrO2 composites was improved by stress-induced phase transformation of tetragonal ZrO2 and toughening effect by microcrack was not observed. Also, ZrO2 particles located at Al2O3 grain junction contributed to toughening, while spherical ZrO2 particles located within Al2O3 grain did not contribute to toughening. Weibull moduli of Al2O3 ceramics and Al2O3/ZrO2 composites of series A and series B were 4.34, 5.17 and 9.06, respectively. Above 0.5 of failure probability, strength values in Al2O3 ceramics and Al2O3/ZrO3 composites of series A and series B were above 400 MPa, 700 MPa and 650 MPa, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 1991

A precipitation method, one of the most effective liquid phase reaction methods, was adopted in order to prepare high-tech Al2O3/ZrO2 composite ceramics, and the effects of stress-induced phase transformation of ZrO2 on thermal shock behavior of Al2O3-ZrO2 ceramics were investigated. Al2(SO4)3.18H2O, ZrOCl2.8H2O and YCl3.6H2O were used as starting materials and NH4OH as a precipitation agent. Metal hydroxides were obtained by single precipitation(process A) and co-precipitation(process B) method at the condition of pH=7, and the composition of Al2O3-ZrO2 composites was fixed as Al2O3-15v/o ZrO2(+3m/o Y2O3). Critical temperature difference showing rapid strength degradation by thermal shock showed higher value in Al2O3/ZrO2 composites(process A : 20$0^{\circ}C$, process B : 215$^{\circ}C$) than in Al2O3(175$^{\circ}C$). The improvement of thermal shock property for Al2O3/ZrO2 composites was mainly due to the increase of strength at room temperature by adding ZrO2. The strength degradation was more severe for the sample with higher strength at room temperature. Crack initiation energies by thermal shock showed higher values in Al2O3/ZrO2 composites than in Al2O3 ceramics due to increase of fracture toughness by ZrO2.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1121-1126
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• 2010

Borosilicate glass (81% $SiO_2$-2% $Al_2O_3$-13% $B_2O_3$-4% $Na_2O_3$) was prepared, and the glass was ion exchanged in $KNO_3$ powder containing different temperature and time. The $K^+-Na^+$ ion exchange takes place at the glass surface and creates compressed stress, which raise the mechanical strength of the glass. The depth profile of $Na^+$ and $K^+$ was observed by electron probe micro analyzer. With the increasing heat-treatment time from 0min to 20min, the depth profile was increased from 17.1um to 29.4um, but mechanical properties were decreased. It was also found out that excessive heat treatment brings stress relaxation. The Vickers hardness, Fracture Toughness and bending strength of ion exchanged samples at $570^{\circ}C$ for 10min were $821.8H_v$, $1.3404MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$, and 953MPa, which is about 120%, 180%, and 450% higher than parent borosilicate glass, respectively. Transmittance was analyzed by UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer. Transmittance of ion exchanged borosilicate glass was decreased slightly at visible-range. It can be expected that transparent bulletproof materials in more light-weight and thinner by ion exchanged borosilicate glass.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2002

Abstract Spinel powder having a particle size of 0.9$\mu$m was calcined for 30 min at $1300^{\circ}C$, followed by ball milling for 4h, to obtain the spinel particle size of 3.29$\mu$m. The die-pressed spinel was presintered at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 2h and then lanthanum aluminosilicate glass was infiltrated at $1080^{\circ}C$ for 0~2 h to investigate the penetration kinetics in glass-spinel composite. The infiltration distance is parabolic in time due to capillarity. The strength and the fracture toughness of glassspinel composites were 317 MPa and 3.56 MPa $m^{1/2}$ respectively and dual microstructure of column (needle) and polygonal shapes as a result of recrystallization was observed due to the high calcination temperature.