• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.367-372
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• 2013

Hydrogen storage as a metal hydride is the most promising alternative because of its relatively large hydrogen storage capacities near room temperature. TiMn2-based C14 Laves phases alloys are one of the promising hydrogen storage materials with easy activation, good hydriding-dehydriding kinetics, high hydrogen storage capacity and relatively low cost. In this work, multi-component, hyper-stoichiometric $Ti_{0.85}Zr_{0.13}(Fe_x-V)_{0.56}Mn_{1.47}Ni_{0.05}$ C14 Laves phase alloys were prepared by a vacuum induction melting for a hydrogen storage tank. Since pure vanadium (V) is quite expensive, the substitution of the V element in these alloys has been tried and some interesting results were achieved by replacing V by commercial ferrovanadium (FeV) raw material. In addition, the melt-spinning process, which was applied to the manufacturing of some of these alloys, could make the plateau slopes much flatter, which resulted in the increase of reversible hydrogen storage capacity. The improvement of sloping properties of melt-spun $Ti_{0.85}Zr_{0.13}(Fe_x-V)_{0.56}Mn_{1.47}Ni_{0.05}$ alloys was mainly attributed to the homogeneity of chemical composition.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 2010

Titanium and its alloys were brazed in the range of $850-950^{\circ}C$ within 10 min. of brazing time using expensive infra red or other heating methods. However, brazing time needs to be extended to get temperature-uniformity for mass production by using continuous belt type furnace or high vacuum furnace with low heating rate. This study examined effects of holding temperature for 60 min, on microstructure and mechanical properties of titanium alloys. Mechanical properties of titanium alloys were drastically deteriorated with increasing holding temperature followed by grain growth. Maximum holding temperatures for CP (commercial pure) titanium and Ti-6Al-4V were confirmed as $800^{\circ}C$ and $850^{\circ}C$, respectively. Both titanium alloys were successfully brazed at $800^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. with the level of base metal strengths by using Zr based filler metal, $Zr_{54}Ti_{22}Ni_{16}Cu_8$.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.628-633
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• 1996

Large saturation magnetization $4pM_s$ is essentially required for soft magnetic thin layers used in magnetic recording devices. Amorphous Co-based alloys and Fe-Co alloys may be regarded as one of the candidates for soft magnetic materials which possess large $4\piM_s$. Some preparation process to improve soft magnetism of these films were performed in this study. Addition of Ta seemed to be effective to change the magnetostriction constant $\lambda$ from positive value to negative one. The magnetoelastic energy $K_e$ is strongly dependent on $\lambda$. $(Co_{95.7}Zr_{4.3})_{100-x}Ta_x$ films with $K_e$ of negative value have sufficiently soft magnetic characteristics. $Fe_{90}Co_{10}$ alloy exhibits extremely large $4\piM_s$, of about 24 kG. Addition of N and Ta to $Fe_{90}Co_{10}$ films improved the soft magnetism of them. The $Fe_{82.0}Co_{7.6}Ta_{10.4}$:N/Ti multilayered films exhibit better soft magnetic properties and better thermal stability than Fe-Co-Ta:N singlelayer films.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.11a
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• pp.16-16
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• 2012

Mg and its alloys have been of great interest because of their low density of 1.7, 30% lighter than Al, but their wide applications have been limited because of their poor resistances against corrosion and/or abrasion. Corrosion resistance of Mg alloys can be improved by formation of anodic films using anodic oxidation method in aqueous electrolytes. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is one of anodic oxidation methods by which hard anodic films can be formed as a result of micro-arc generation under high electric field. PEO method utilize not only substrate elements but also chemical components in electrolytes to form anodic films on Mg alloys. PEO films formed on AM50 magnesium alloy in an acidic fluozirconate electrolyte were observed to consist of mainly $ZrO_2$ and $MgF_2$. Liu et al reported that PEO coating on AM30 Mg alloy consists of $MgF_2$-rich outer porous layer and an MgO-rich dense inner layer. PEO films prepared on ACM522 Mg die-casting alloy in an aqueous phosphate solution were also reported to be composed of monoclinic $Mg_3(PO_4)_2$. $CeO_2$-incorporated PEO coatings were also reported to be formed on AZ31 Mg alloys in $CeO_2$ particle-containing $Na_2SiO_3$-based electrolytes. Magnesium tin hydroxide ($MgSn(OH)_6$) was also produced on AZ91D alloy by PEO process in stannate-containing electrolyte. Effects of $OH^-$, $F^-$, $PO{_4}^{3-}$ and $SiO{_3}^{2-}$ ions and alloying elements of Al and Sn on the formation of PEO films on pure Mg and Mg alloys and their protective properties against corrosion have been investigated in this work. $PO{_4}^{3-}$, $F^-$ and $SiO{_3}^{2-}$ ions were observed to contribute to the formation of PEO films but $OH^-$ ions were found to break down the surface films under high electric field. The effect of pulse current on the formation of PEO films will be also reported.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.136-142
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• 2022

This paper investigates the enhanced wear performance of a CrAl coated accident tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding. In the wake of the Fukushima accident, extensive research on ATF with respect to improving the oxidation resistance of cladding materials is ongoing. Since coated Zr claddings can be applied without major changes to the criteria for reactor core design, many researchers are studying coatings for claddings. To improve the quality of the CrAl coating layer, optimization of the manufacturing process is imperative. This study employs arc ion plating to obtain improved CrAl coated claddings using CrAl binary alloy targets through an improved coating method. Surface roughness and adhesion are improved, and droplets are reduced. Furthermore, the coated layer has a dense and fine microstructure. In scratch tests, all the tested CrAl coated claddings exhibit a superior resistance compared to the Zr cladding. In a fretting wear test, the wear volume of the CrAl coated claddings is smaller compared to the Zr cladding. Furthermore, the coated cladding manufactured through the improved process exhibits better wear resistance than other CrAl coated claddings. Based on these results, we suggest that fine microstructure is attributed to a mechanically and microstructurally robust CrAl coating layer, which enhances wear resistance.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.247-254
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• 2021

This study reviews dynamic deformation behavior of ultra-fine-grained Al alloys, ultra-fine-grained conventional low carbon steel and dual phase steel and Zr-based amorphous alloys. Dynamic tests were conducted using a Kolsky bar then the test data was analyzed in relation to resultant microstructures, mechanical properties and propensity of adiabatic shear band. In addition, deformed microstructures and fracture surfaces were used to investigate the behavior of both the dynamic deformation and fracture, and adiabatic shear banding. As a result, increasing microstructural homogeneity, strain hardenability and forming multiple shear bands could be a better way to increase the fracture resistance under dynamic loading as the formation of adiabatic shear bands was reduced or prevented.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.524-537
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• 2008

Zr-based amorphous alloy matrix composites reinforced with metallic continuous fibers were fabricated by liquid pressing process, and their fracture properties were investigated by directly observing microfracture process using an in situ loading stage installed inside a scanning electron microscope chamber. About 60 vol.% of metallic fibers were homogeneously distributed inside the amorphous matrix. Apparent fracture toughness of the stainless-steel- and tungsten-fiber-reinforced composites was lower than that of monolithic amorphous alloy, while that of the Ta-fiber-reinforced composite was higher. According to the microfracture observation, shear bands or cracks were initiated at the amorphous matrix, and the propagation of the initiated shear bands or cracks was effectively blocked by fibers, thereby resulting in stable crack growth which could be confirmed by the fracture resistance curve (R-curve) behavior. This increase in fracture resistance with increasing crack length improved fracture properties of the fiber-reinforced composites, and could be explained by mechanisms of formation of multiple shear bands or multiple cracks at the amorphous matrix and blocking of crack or shear band propagation and multiple necking at metallic fibers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.597-609
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• 2020

Accident Tolerant Fuels have been widely studied since the Fukushima-Daiichi accident in 2011 as one of the options on how to further enhance the safety of nuclear power plants. Deposition of protective coatings on nuclear fuel claddings has been considered as a near-term concept that will reduce the high-temperature oxidation rate and enhance accidental tolerance of the cladding while providing additional benefits during normal operation and transients. This study focuses on experimental testing of Zr-based alloys coated with Cr-based coatings using Physical Vapour Deposition. The results of long-term corrosion tests, as well as tests simulating postulated accidents, are presented. Zr-1%Nb alloy used as nuclear fuel cladding serves as a substrate and Cr, CrN, Cr_xN_y layers are deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering and reactive magnetron sputtering. The deposition procedures are optimized in order to improve coating properties. Coated as well as reference uncoated samples were experimentally tested. The presented results include standard long-term corrosion tests at 360℃ in WWER water chemistry, burst (creep) tests and mainly single and double-sided high-temperature steam oxidation tests between 1000 and 1400℃ related to postulated Loss-of-coolant accident and Design extension conditions. Coated and reference samples were characterized pre- and post-testing using mechanical testing (microhardness, ring compression test), Thermal Evolved Gas Analysis analysis (hydrogen, oxygen concentration), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (EDS, WDS, EBSD) and X-ray diffraction.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.477-488
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• 2010

Zr-based amorphous alloy matrix composites reinforced with stainless steel (STS) and tantalum continuous fibers were fabricated without pores or defects by a liquid pressing process, and their quasi-static and dynamic deformation behaviors were investigated by using a universal testing machine and a Split Hopkinson pressure bar, respectively. The quasi-static compressive test results indicated that the fiberreinforced composites showed amaximum strength of about 1050~1300 MPa, and its strength maintained over 700 MPa until reaching astrain of 40%. Under dynamic loading, the maximum stresses of the composites were considerably higher than those under quasi-static loading because of the strain-rate hardening effect, whereas the fracture strains were considerably lower than those under quasi-static loading because of the decreased resistance to fracture. The STS-fiber-reinforced composite showed a greater compressive strength and ductility under dynamic loading than the tantalum-fiber-reinforced composite because of the excellent resistance to fracture of STS fibers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.1975-1988
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• 2024

It is important to maintain cladding integrity in spent nuclear fuel management. This study proposes a numerical analysis method to evaluate the fracture resistance of irradiated zirconium alloy cladding under pinch load known to cause Mode-III failure. The mechanical behavior and fracture of the cladding under pinch loading can be evaluated by a Ring Compression Test (RCT). To simulate the fracture of hydride precipitates, zirconium matrix, and Zr/hydride interfaces under the stress field generated by RCT, a micro-structure crack propagation simulation method based on Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM) has been proposed. Our RCT simulation model was constructed from microscopic images of irradiated cladding. In this study, we developed an automated process to generate a pixel-based finite element model by separating the hydride precipitates, zirconium matrix, and interfaces using an image segmentation method. The appropriate element size was selected to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of a crack propagation simulation. The load-displacement curves and strain energies from RCT were compared and analyzed with the simulation results of different element sizes. The finalized RCT simulation model can be used to establish the failure criterion of fuel rods under pinch loading. The advantages and limitations of the proposed method are fully discussed here.