• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2002.07a
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• pp.25-37
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• 2002

The most important industrial application of gamma radiation in characterizing green compacts is the determination of the density. Examples are given where this method is applied in manufacturing technical components in powder metallurgy. The requirements imposed by modern quality management systems and operation by the workforce in industrial production are described. The accuracy of measurement achieved with this method is demonstrated and a comparison is given with other test methods to measure the density. The advantages and limitations of gamma ray densitometry are outlined. The gamma ray densitometer measures the attenuation of gamma radiation penetrating the test parts (Fig. 1). As the capability of compacts to absorb this type of radiation depends on their density, the attenuation of gamma radiation can serve as a measure of the density. The volume of the part being tested is defined by the size of the aperture screeniing out the radiation. It is a channel with the cross section of the aperture whose length is the height of the test part. The intensity of the radiation identified by the detector is the quantity used to determine the material density. Gamma ray densitometry can equally be performed on green compacts as well as on sintered components. Neither special preparation of test parts nor skilled personnel is required to perform the measurement; neither liquids nor other harmful substances are involved. When parts are exhibiting local density variations, which is normally the case in powder compaction, sectional densities can be determined in different parts of the sample without cutting it into pieces. The test is non-destructive, i.e. the parts can still be used after the measurement and do not have to be scrapped. The measurement is controlled by a special PC based software. All results are available for further processing by in-house quality documentation and supervision of measurements. Tool setting for multi-level components can be much improved by using this test method. When a densitometer is installed on the press shop floor, it can be operated by the tool setter himself. Then he can return to the press and immediately implement the corrections. Transfer of sample parts to the lab for density testing can be eliminated and results for the correction of tool settings are more readily available. This helps to reduce the time required for tool setting and clearly improves the productivity of powder presses. The range of materials where this method can be successfully applied covers almost the entire periodic system of the elements. It reaches from the light elements such as graphite via light metals (AI, Mg, Li, Ti) and their alloys, ceramics ($AI_20_3$, SiC, Si_3N_4, $Zr0_2$, ...), magnetic materials (hard and soft ferrites, AlNiCo, Nd-Fe-B, ...), metals including iron and alloy steels, Cu, Ni and Co based alloys to refractory and heavy metals (W, Mo, ...) as well as hardmetals. The gamma radiation required for the measurement is generated by radioactive sources which are produced by nuclear technology. These nuclear materials are safely encapsulated in stainless steel capsules so that no radioactive material can escape from the protective shielding container. The gamma ray densitometer is subject to the strict regulations for the use of radioactive materials. The radiation shield is so effective that there is no elevation of the natural radiation level outside the instrument. Personal dosimetry by the operating personnel is not required. Even in case of malfunction, loss of power and incorrect operation, the escape of gamma radiation from the instrument is positively prevented.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.628-634
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• 2011

SA508 Gr.4N Ni-Cr-Mo low alloy steel, in which Ni and Cr contents are higher than in commercial SA508 Gr.3 Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steels, may be a candidate reactor pressure vessel (RPV) material with higher strength and toughness from its tempered martensitic microstructure. The inner surface of the RPV is weld-cladded with stainless steels to prevent corrosion. The goal of this study is to evaluate the microstructural properties of the clad interface between Ni-Cr-Mo low alloy steel and stainless weldment, and the effects of post weld heat treatment (PWHT) on the properties. The properties of the clad interface were compared with those of commercial Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel. Multi-layer welding of model alloys with ER308L and ER309L stainless steel by the SAW method was performed, and then PWHT was conducted at $610^{\circ}C$ for 30 h. The microstructural changes of the clad interface were analyzed using OM, SEM and TEM, and micro-Vickers hardness tests were performed. Before PWHT, the heat affected zone (HAZ) showed higher hardness than base and weld metals due to formation of martensite after welding in both steels. In addition, the hardness of the HAZ in Ni-Cr-Mo low alloy steel was higher than that in Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel due to a comparatively high martensite fraction. The hardness of the HAZ decreased after PWHT in both steels, but the dark region was formed near the fusion line in which the hardness was locally high. In the case of Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel, formation of fine Cr-carbides in the weld region near the fusion line by diffusion of C from the base metal resulted in locally high hardness in the dark region. However, the precipitates of the region in the Ni-Cr-Mo low alloy steel were similar to that in the base metal, and the hardness in the region was not greatly different from that in the base metal.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.315-320
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• 2008

The effect of Mn additive on the thermoelectric properties of Fe-Si alloys prepared by a RF inductive furnace was investigated. The electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient were measured as a function of temperature under Ar atmosphere to evaluate their applicability to thermoelectric energy conversion. The electrical conductivity of the specimens increased with increasing temperatures showing typical semiconducting behavior. The electrical conductivity of Mn-doped specimens are higher than that of undoped specimens and increased slightly with increasing the amount of Mn additive. This must be due to the difference in carrier concentration and the amount of residual metallic phase ${\varepsilon}$-FeSi(The ${\varepsilon}$-FeSi was detected in spite of 100 h annealing treatment at $830^{\circ}C$). And metallic conduction increased slightly with increasing the amount of Mn additive. On the other hand, Mn-doped specimens showed the lower Seebeck coefficient due to metallic phase. The power factor of Mn-doped specimens are higher than that of undoped specimens and would be affected by the electrical conductivity more than Seebeck coefficient.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.708-714
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• 2011

The premature failure of a servovalve used for six months in a thermal power plant has been analyzed. The servovalve was made of stainless steel, containing 16Cr-0.44Mo, along with other elements. An overload of oil-supply pumping and an abnormal increase in the oil flux were observed during operation. A study revealed that erosion and corrosion could be the main causes of the failure. The visual examination of the servovalve did not show any appreciable damage. However, corrosion and erosion of the servovalve were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Upon examination of the servovalve, the corrosion was found to have occurred throughout the bushing and spool; however, erosion occurred at only the edge-side. In addition, the condition of the electrohydraulic control system (EHC) oil was investigated with respect to its satisfaction of the management standard.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.10
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• pp.769-774
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• 2012

Mg-x wt% $Fe_2O_3-y$ wt% Ni samples were prepared by reactive mechanical grinding in a planetary ball mill, and their hydrogen-storage properties were investigated and compared. Activations of $Mg-5Fe_2O_3-5Ni$ was completed after one hydriding (under 12 bar $H_2$) - dehydriding (in vacuum) cycle at 593 K. At n = 2, $Mg-5Fe_2O_3-5Ni$ absorbed 3.43 wt% H for 5 min, 3.57 wt% H for 10 min, 3.76 wt% H for 20 min, and 3.98 wt% H for 60 min. Activated $Mg-10Fe_2O_3$ had the highest hydriding rate, absorbing 2.99 wt% H for 2.5 min, 4.86 wt% H for 10 min, and 5.54 wt% H for 60 min at 593 K under 12 bar $H_2$. Activated $Mg-10Fe_2O_3-5Ni$ had the highest dehydriding rate, desorbing 1.31 wt% H for 10 min, 2.91 wt% H for 30 min, and 3.83 wt% H for 60 min at 593 K under 1.0 bar $H_2$.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.855-859
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• 2012

Samples with compositions of 80 wt% Mg-14 wt% Ni-6 wt% $Fe_2O_3$ and 80 wt% Mg-14 wt% Ni-6 wt% Ti were prepared by mechanical grinding under hydrogen (reactive mechanical grinding). Their hydrogen absorptions during reactive mechanical grinding were examined. TGA and BET analysis were employed to investigate the hydrogen storage properties of the prepared alloys. TGA analysis of the $Mg-14Ni-6Fe_2O_3$ showed an absorbed hydrogen quantity of 6.91 wt% while that of Mg-14Ni-6Ti was 2.59 wt%. BET analysis showed that the specific surface areas of $Mg-14Ni-6Fe_2O_3$ and Mg-14Ni-6Ti after reactive mechanical grinding were $264m^2/g$ and $64m^2/g$, respectively. The larger absorbed hydrogen quantity and the larger specific surface area of $Mg-14Ni-6Fe_2O_3$ after RMG than those of Mg-14Ni-6Ti after RMG showed that the effects of $Fe_2O_3$ addition are much stronger than those of Ti addition during reactive mechanical grinding.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2011

This work investigated the microstructure and mechanical properties of 6063 Al alloy fabricated by shear-drawing (SD) technique where shear and drawing strains were combined together within a predetermined die. To find the optimum condition for sound deformation, three different dies having different inner angle and diameter of the exit channel were prepared. After single deformation of the present sample, the sound deformation took place without an abrupt failure of the sample if the inner angle would be greater than $135^{\circ}$ in this study, when the channel diameter of the SD die was reduced from 10 to 9 mm. Microstructural observation showed that the inner angle of $135^{\circ}$ was found to be more effective than that of $150^{\circ}$ in terms of the alignment of each grain to the shear direction imposed by SD method. In addition, the yield strength of the SD-deformed sample was twice higher than that of the initial counterpart while loosing ductility in tension.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2011

To develop a 6061 aluminum alloy with low residual stress and high tensile strength, a cryogenic treatment process was investigated. Compared to the conventional heat treatment process for precipitation hardening with artificial aging, the cryogenic treatment process has two additional steps. The first step is cryogenic quenching of the sample into liquid nitrogen, the second step is up-hill quenching of the sample into boiling water. The residual stress for the sample was measured by the $sin^2{\psi}$ method with X-ray diffraction. The 6061 aluminum alloy sample showed 67% relief in stress at the cryogenic treatment process with artificial aging at $175^{\circ}C$. From this study, it was found that the optimum cryogenic treatment process for a sample with low residual stress and high tensile strength is relatively low cooling speed in the cryogenic quenching step and a very high heating speed in the up-hill quenching step.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2011

Weldability, especially HAZ cold cracking, weld metal solidification cracking, and HAZ liquation cracking susceptibilities, of ASTM A356 CA6NM martensitic stainless steel casting was investigated and compared with that of 9-12% Cr ferritic steel castings. Irrespective of the Cr and Ni content in the castings, the HAZ maximum hardness increased with an increase of carbon content. CA6NM steel, which has the lowest carbon content, had the lowest HAZ hardness and showed no cold cracking in y-slit cracking tests. CA6NM steel, meanwhile, showed the largest weld metal solidification cracking susceptibility in varestraint tests because of its higher amount of impurity elements, phosphorus, and sulfur. All castings investigated had good high temperature ductility in hot ductility tests and showed little difference in liquation cracking susceptibility.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2022

The smelting reduction of spent lithium-ion batteries results in metallic alloys containing Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Si. A process to separate metal ions from the sulfuric acid leaching solution of these metallic alloys has been reported. In this process, ionic liquids are employed to separate Fe(III) and Cu(II). In this study, D2EHPA and Cyanex 301 were employed to replace these ionic liquids. Fe(III) and Cu(II) from the sulfate solution were sequentially extracted using 0.5 M D2EHPA with three stages of cross-current and 0.3 M Cyanex 301. The stripping of Fe(III) and Cu(II) from the loaded phases was performed using 50% (v/v) and 60% (v/v) aqua regia solutions, respectively. The mass balance results from this process indicated that the recovery and purity percentages of the metals were greater than 99%.