• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.1133-1138
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• 2003

The pressure tubes, which contain high temperature heavy water and fuel, are within the core of a CANDU nuclear reactor, and are thus subjected to high stresses, temperature gradient, and neutron flux. Further, it is well known that pressure tubes of cold-worked Zr-2.5Nb materials result in hydrogen diffusion, which create fully-hydrided regions (frequently called Blister). Thus a proper investigation of hydrogen diffusion within zirconium-alloy nuclear components, such as CANDU pressure tube and fuel channels is essential to predict the structural integrity of these components. In this respect, this paper presents numerical investigation of hydrogen diffusion to quantify the hydrogen concentration for blister growth of CANDU pressure tube. For this purpose, coupled temperature-hydrogen diffusion analyses are performed by means of two-dimensional finite element analysis. Comparison of predicted temperature field and blister with published test data shows good agreement.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.422-429
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• 2000

To investigate the effect of annealing temperature and time on the recrystallization behavior and microstructure of Zr-based alloys, the specimens of Zr-0.8Sn-0.4Nb-0.4Fe-0.2Cu, Zr-1Nb, Zircaloy-4, and unalloyed Zr were cold-worked and annealed at 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, $900^{\circ}C$ for 30 to 5000 minutes. The hardness, microstructure and precipitate of the specimens were investigated by using micro-hardness tester, optical microscope and transmission electron microscope, respectively. The recrystallization of Zr-based alloys occurred between $400^{\circ}C$ and $600^{\circ}C$. As the content of alloying elements increased, the hardness and recrystallization temperature of the alloys increased though the grain sizes after recrystallization decreased. It was supposed that the hardness of Zr-based alloy with Fe or Cu increased during recovery by the formation of Fe or Cu precipitates.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.143-147
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• 2009

In biomedical implants and dental fields, titanium has been widely utilized for excellent corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, Ti and its alloys are nonbioactive after being implanted in bone. In this study, for the purpose of improvement in biocompatibility the anodic $TiO_2$ layer on Ti-xNb alloys were fabricated by electrochemical method in phosphate solution, and the effect of Nb content on the pore size, the morphology and crystallinity of Ti oxide layer formed by the anodic oxidation method was investigated. The Ti containing Nb up to 3 wt%, 20 wt% and 40 wt% were melted by using a vacuum furnace. The sample were cut, polished, and homogenized for 24 hr at $1050^{\circ}C$ for surface roughness test and anodizing. Titanium anodic layer was formed on the specimen surface in an electrolytic solution of 1 M phosphoric acid at constant current densities ($30mA/cm^2$) by anodizing method. Microstructural morphology, crystallinity, composition, and surface roughness of oxide layer were observed by FE-SEM, XRD, EDS, and roughness tester, respectively. The structure of alloy was changed from $\alpha$-phase to $\beta$-phase with increase of Nb content. From XRD results, the structure of $TiO_2$ formed on the Ti-xNb surface was anatase, and no peaks of $Nb_2O_5$ or other Nb oxide were detected suggesting that Nb atoms are dispersed in $TiO_2$-based solid solution. Surface roughness test and SEM results, pore size formed on surface and surface roughness decreased as Nb content increased. From the line analysis results, intensity of Ti peak was high in the center of pore, whereas, intensity of O peak was high in the outside of pore center.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.197-197
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• 2016

Commercially pure titanium (CP Ti) and Ti-6Al-4V alloys have been widely used for biomedical applications. However, the use of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy in biomaterial is then a subject of controversy because aluminum ions and vanadium oxide have potential detrimental influence on the human body due to vanadium and aluminum. Hence, recent works showed that the synthesis of new Ti-based alloys for implant application involves more biocompatible metallic alloying element, such as, Nb, Hf, Zr and Mo. In particular, Nb and Hf are one of the most effective Ti ${\beta}-stabilizer$ and reducing the elastic modulus. Plasma electrolyte oxidation (PEO) is known as excellent method in the biocompatibility of biomaterial due to quickly coating time and controlled coating condition. The anodized oxide layer and diameter modulation of Ti alloys can be obtained function of improvement of cell adhesion. Manganese(Mn) plays very important roles in essential for normal growth and metabolism of skeletal tissue in vertebrates and can be detected as minor constituents in teeth and bone. Radio frequency(RF) magnetron sputtering in the various PVD methods has high deposition rates, high-purity films, extremely high adhesion of films, and excellent uniform layers for depositing a wide range of materials, including metals, alloys and ceramics like a hydroxyapatite. The aim of this study is to research the Mn coatings on the micro-pore formed Ti-29Nb-xHf alloys by RF-magnetron sputtering for dental applications. Ti-29Nb-xHf (x= 0, 3, 7 and 15wt%, mass fraction) alloys were prepared Ti-29Nb-xHf alloys of containing Hf up from 0 wt% to 15 wt% were melted by using a vacuum furnace. Ti-29Nb-xHf alloys were homogenized for 2 hr at $1050^{\circ}C$. Each alloy was anodized in solution containing typically 0.15 M calcium acetate monohydrate + 0.02 M calcium glycerophosphate at room temperature. A direct current power source was used for the process of anodization. Anodized alloys was prepared using 270V~300V anodization voltage at room. Mn coatings was produced by RF-magnetron sputtering system. RF power of 100W was applied to the target for 1h at room temperature. The microstructure, phase and composition of Mn coated oxide surface of Ti-29Nb-xHf alloys were examined by FE-SEM, EDS, and XRD.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.391-396
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• 2016

In this study, ultra-fine soft-magnetic micro-powders are prepared by high-pressure gas atomization of an Fe-based alloy, Fe-Hf-B-Nb-P-C. Spherical powders are successfully obtained by disintegration of the alloy melts under high-pressure He or $N_2$ gas. The mean particle diameter of the obtained powders is $25.7{\mu}m$ and $42.1{\mu}m$ for He and $N_2$ gas, respectively. Their crystallographic structure is confirmed to be amorphous throughout the interior when the particle diameter is less than $45{\mu}m$. The prepared powders show excellent soft magnetic properties with a saturation magnetization of 164.5 emu/g and a coercivity of 9.0 Oe. Finally, a toroidal core is fabricated for measuring the magnetic permeability, and a ${\mu}_r$ of up to 78.5 is obtained. It is strongly believed that soft magnetic powders prepared by gas atomization will be beneficial in the fabrication of high-performance devices, including inductors and motors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.152-152
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• 2017

Titanium and its alloys have been widely used for biomedical applications. However, the use of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy in biomaterial is then a subject of controversy because aluminum ions and vanadium oxide have potential detrimental influence on the human body due to vanadium and aluminum. Hence, recent works showed that the synthesis of new Ti-based alloys for implant application involves more biocompatible metallic alloying element,such as, Nb, Hf, Zr and Mo. In particular, Nb and Hf are one of the most effective Ti ${\beta}$-stabilizer and reducing the elastic modulus. Plasma electrolyte oxidation (PEO) is known as excellent method in the biocompatibility of biomaterial due to quickly coating time and controlled coating condition. The anodized oxide layer and diameter modulation of Ti alloys can be obtained function of improvement of cell adhesion. Silicon (Si) and magnesium (Mg) has a beneficial effect on bone. Si in particular has been found to be essential for normal bone and cartilage growth and development. In vitro studies have shown that Mg plays very important roles in essential for normal growth and metabolism of skeletal tissue in vertebrates and can be detected as minor constituents in teeth and bone. Therefore, in this study, Si and Mg coatings on the hydroxyapatite film formed Ti-29Nb-xHf alloys by plasma electrolyte oxidation has been investigated using several experimental techniques. Ti-29Nb-xHf (x= 0, 3, 7 and 15wt%, mass fraction) alloys were prepared Ti-29Nb-xHf alloys of containing Hf up from 0 wt% to 15 wt% were melted by using a vacuum furnace. Ti-29Nb-xHf alloys were homogenized for 2 hr at $1050^{\circ}C$. The electrolyte was Si and Mg ions containing calcium acetate monohydrate + calcium glycerophosphate at room temperature. The microstructure, phase and composition of Si and Mg coated oxide surface of Ti-29Nb-xHf alloys were examined by FE-SEM, EDS, and XRD.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2021

High-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels show excellent toughness when trace amounts of transition elements are added. In steels, prior austenite grain size (PAGS), which is often determined by the number of added elements, is a critical factor in determining the mechanical properties of the material. In this study, we used two etching methods to measure and compare the PAGS of specimens with bainitic HSLA steels having different Nb contents These two methods were nital etching and picric acid etching. Both methods confirmed that the sample with high Nb content exhibited smaller PAGS than its low Nb counterpart because of Nb's ability to hinder austenite recrystallization at high temperatures. Although both etching approaches are beneficial to PAGS estimation, the picric acid etching method has the advantage of enabling observation of the interface containing Nb precipitate. By contrast, the nital etching method has the advantage of a very short etching time (5 s) in determining the PAGS, with the picric acid etching method being considerably longer (5 h).

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2008

Ni-based amorphous alloy ribbon was prepared by a single-roller melt-spinning technique. Palladium coating was found to enhance significantly the absorption/desorption behavior of hydrogen in amorphous alloy. The hydrogen permeability of a Pd-coated $(Ni_{60}Nb_{40}){_{100-X}}$TaX(x=5, 10) amorphous alloy was examined in the temperature range of $623{\sim}773K$, comparable with those of $Pd_{60}-Cu_{40}$ alloys. The permeated hydrogen flux was increased with increasing the temperature and the difference of hydrogen pressure between the feed side and permeates side of the membrane. The Ni-based amorphous alloys were characterized by X-ray diffractometry(XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). The morphology of surface and roughness was observed by using scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and atomic force microscopy(AFM).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.505-512
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• 2013

Three types of zirconium base alloy were evaluated to study how their work hardening behavior is affected by alloy composition. Repeated-tensile tests (5% elongation at each test) were performed at room temperature at a strain rate of $1.7{\times}10^{-3}s^{-1}$ for the alloys, which were initially controlled for their microstructure and texture. After considering the yield strength and work hardening exponent (n) variations, it was found that the work hardening behavior of the zirconium base alloys was affected more by the Nb content than the Sn content. The facture mode during the repeated tensile test was followed by the slip deformation of the zirconium structure from the texture and microstructural analysis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.417-420
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• 2006

The composition and structure of dendrite phase within $Zr_{76.11}Ti_{4.20}Cu_{4.51}Ni_{3.16}Be_{1.49}Nb_{10.53}$ bulk metallic glass (BMG) were confirmed by using an EPMA, XRD and TEM, respectively. The chief elements of dendrite phase were Zr-Ti-Nb and had a BCC structure. The thermal properties of this BMG have been then subsequently investigated by using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The glass transition and crystallization onset temperatures were determined as $339.7^{\circ}C$ and $375.8^{\circ}C$ for this alloy, respectively. Mechanical properties have also been examined by conducting a series of uniaxial compression tests at various temperatures within supercooled liquid region under the strain rates between $10^{-4}/s$ and $3{\times}10^{-2}/s$. The deformation behavior of BMG composite within supercooled liquid region is similar to one of Vit-1 exhibiting amorphous single phase alloy. The flow stresses of BMG composite, however, are entirely higher than those of Vit-1 because dendrite phases are interfere with moving of atoms.