• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.376-385
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• 2015

The effects of Nb and Cr addition on the microstructure, corrosion and oxide characteristics of Zr based alloys were investigated. The corrosion tests were performed in a pressurized water reactor simulated-loop system at $360^{\circ}C$. The microstructures were examined using OM and TEM, and the oxide properties were characterized by low-angle X-ray diffraction and TEM. The corrosion test results up to 360 days revealed that the corrosion rates were considerably affected by Cr content but not Nb content. The corrosion resistance of the Zr-xNb-0.1Sn-yCr quaternary alloys was improved by an increasing Nb/Cr ratio. The crystal structure of the precipitates was affected by a variation of the Nb/Cr ratio. The Zr-Nb beta-enriched precipitates were mainly formed in the high Nb/Cr ratio alloy while $Zr(NbCr)_2$ precipitates were frequently observed in the low Nb/Cr ratio alloy. The studies of oxide characteristics revealed that the corrosion resistance was related to the crystal structure of the precipitate.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.208-215
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• 2000

The mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Ti alloys for medical implants have been investigated. Ti, Ti-15Sn-4Nb and Ti-15Sn-4Nb-2Zr alloys were melted in arc furnace and the corrosion resistance of Ti alloys was evaluated by anodic polarization test. The microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti alloys were analysed by optical microscope, hardness and tensile tester. The tensile strength of the pure-Ti improved by addition of Sn and Nb and Ti-15Sn-4Nb alloy showed better Rockwell hardness compared with pure Ti. However, there was no significant difference in corrosion resistance between thoseTi-alloys made of Pure-Ti and Ti-15Sn-4Nb alloy. The passive films on the Ti-15Sn-4Nb alloy in air atmosphere consisted of $TiO_2$, SnO and NbO as demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.10
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• pp.978-984
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• 1999

ZrNbFeCu-xSn 합금을 진공 아크 용해법으로 제조하여 $360^{\circ}C$의 물, $400^{\circ}C$의 수증기 및 36$0^{\circ}C$의 70ppm LiOH 분위기에서 부식실험을 실시하였으며, 시편의 미세구조는 광학현미경, SEM 및 TEM으로 관찰하였다. 36$0^{\circ}C$에서 210일까지 부식 실험한 결과 대부분의 합금이 천이 전 영역에서의 부식거동을 보였다. $400^{\circ}C$ 경우, 초기에는$ 360^{\circ}C$에서의 부식거동과 비슷한 경향을 보였으나 80일 이후부터는 천이현상이 발생하여 부식속도가 급격히 증가하는 경향을 나타내었는데, Sn량이 많을수록 보다 빠른 시간에 천이현상이 발생했다. LiOH 용액에서는 전반적으로 $400^{\circ}C$에서 보다 더 늦은 시간에 천이현상이 발생했다. 석출물은 Zr(Fe,Cu)$_2$나Zr(Fe,Cu)$_3$로 추정되는 성분을 가지지만, Sn의 증가에 따라 석출물의 조성이나 크기는 거의 변화가 없는 것으로 관찰되었다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.239-245
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• 2000

Effect of tin and iron content on the recrystallization behavior of temary Zr-0.8Sn-x%Nb alloys were studied. The specimens with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 wt.% of iron were prepared under various annealing temperatures from $400^{\circ}C$ to $800^{\circ}C$ and times from 30 to 5000 minutes after vacuum arc remelting. The recrystallization behavior was observed using a polarized optical microscope, TEM and micro-vickers hardness tester. The recrystallization temperature of the alloys slightly increased with iron content due to increase of activation energy. The grain growth of the alloys with 0.1 and 0.2 wt.% of iron occured rapidly, however, that of the alloys with 0.4 wt.% iron was gradually retarded due to precipitation. The hardness of the alloy with a high iron slightly increased by the precipitation of beta phase after annealing at $800^{\circ}C$.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.416-424
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• 2018

Microstructure of oxide formed on Zr-Nb-Sn tube sample was intensively examined by scanning transmission electron microscopy after exposure to simulated primary water chemistry conditions of various concentrations of Zn (0 or 30 ppb) and dissolved hydrogen ($H_2$) (30 or 50 cc/kg) for various durations without applying desirable heat flux. Microstructural analysis indicated that there was no noticeable change in the microstructure of the oxide corresponding to water chemistry changes within the test duration of 100 days (pretransition stage) and no significant difference in the overall thickness of the oxide layer. Equiaxed grains with nano-size pores along the grain boundaries and microcracks were dominant near the water/oxide interface, regardless of water chemistry conditions. As the metal/oxide interface was approached, the number of pores tended to decrease. However, there was no significant effect of $H_2$ concentration between 30 cc/kg and 50 cc/kg on the corrosion of the oxide after free immersion in water at $360^{\circ}C$. The adsorption of Zn on the cladding surface was observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and detected as ZnO on the outer oxide surface. From the perspective of $OH^-$ ion diffusion and porosity formation, the absence of noticeable effects was discussed further.