• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2003

The microstructural characteristics of $Al_2$$O_3$/Cu composites hot-pressed at different temperatures for atmosphere switching from $H_2$to Ar have been studied. When the composite atmosphere was switched at $1000^{\circ}C$ it led to more homogeneous microstructure than when the atmosphere was switched at $1450^{\circ}C$. The strong sensitivity of Cu to atmosphere, especially the oxygen content in the atmosphere, was found to be responsible for the observed change, based upon the interfacial phenomena related to the formation of $CuAlO_2$. The practical implication of these results is that an optimum processing condition for the design of homogeneous microstructure and stable properties can be established.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.58-66
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• 1991

Not only difference of fatigue crack growth and propagation behavior resulted from the grain size, the hardness ratio and volume fraction in M.E.F. dual phase steel composed of martensite in hard phase and ferrite in soft phase, but also the effects of the plastic constraint were investigated by fracture mechanics and microstructural method. The main results obtained are as follows: 1) The fatigue endurance of M.E.F. steel increases with decreasing the grain size, increasing the ratio of hardness and volume fraction. 2) The initiation of slip and crack occures faster as the stress level goes higher. These phenomena result from the plastic constraint effect of the second phase. 3) The crack propagation rate in the constant stress level is faster as the grain size gets larger, the ratio of hardness lower and volume fraction smaller.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.503-516
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• 2011

Uncertainty in concrete properties, including concrete modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture, are predicted by developing a microstructural homogenization model. The homogenization model is developed by analyzing a concrete representative volume element (RVE) using the finite element (FE) method. The concrete RVE considers concrete as a three phase composite material including: cement paste, aggregate and interfacial transition zone (ITZ). The homogenization model allows for considering two sources of variability in concrete, randomly dispersed aggregates in the concrete matrix and uncertain mechanical properties of composite phases of concrete. Using the proposed homogenization technique, the uncertainty in concrete modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture (described by numerical cumulative probability density function) are determined. Deflection uncertainty of reinforced concrete (RC) beams, propagated from uncertainties in concrete properties, is quantified using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. Cracked plane frame analysis is used to account for tension stiffening in concrete. Concrete homogenization enables a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between concrete materials and structural modeling, which is necessary for realistic serviceability prediction.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 1998

The effect of $\beta$-$Si_3N_4$ seeding on microstructural development of silicon nitride based materials has been investigated. In particular, to observe more distinctly the abnormal grain growth in pressureless sintering, fine $\alpha$-$Si_3N_4$(mean particle size: 0.26 ${\mu}m$) powder classified by sedimentation method was used. It was possible to prepare silicon nitride with abnormally grown grains under low nitrogen pressure of 1 atm thanks to the heterogeneous nucleation on $Si_3N_4$ seed particles. The size and morphology of silicon nitride grains were strongly influenced by the presence of $\beta$-$Si_3N_4$ seed and overall chemical composition. For specimens with initially low $\beta$-content, the large grains grew without a significant impingement by other large grains. On the contrary, for specimens with initially high $\beta$-content, steric hindrance was effective. The resulting microstructure was less inhomogeneous and characterized by unimodal grain size distribution.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.120-124
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• 2002

It is the purpose of the present to report result of a preliminary electrochemical characterization of the as-cast Mg-Ca alloys. Electrochemical data will be correlated with chemical composition of impurities, and the microstructural change before and after Ca is added. This paper shows that small addition of Ca imparts beneficial effect in electrochemical properties of Mg alloy, primarily, through microstructural modifications.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2002

Processing and properties of $Al_2O_3$ composites with Ni-Fe content of 10 and 15 wt% were investigated. Homogeneous powder mixtures of $Al_2O_3$/Ni-Fe alloy were prepared by the solution-chemistry route using $Al_2O_3$, $Ni(NO_3)_2{\cdot}6H_2O$ and $Fe(NO_3)_3{\cdot}9H_2O$ powders. Microstructural observation of composite powder revealed that Ni-Fe alloy particles with a size of 20nm were homogeneously dispersed on $Al_2O_3$ powder surfaces. Hot-pressed composites showed enhanced fracture toughness and magnetic response. The properties are discussed based on the observed microstructural characteristics.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.397-407
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• 1995

The objectives of this study are first, to expand our understanding of relationship between magnetic properties and microstructural features such as grain size and texture, and second to reduce core loss of Fe-6.5%Si strip through optimizing heat treatment conditions. A rapid solidification technique, planar flow casting(PFC), was adopted to produce Fe-6.5%Si strips. The strips were heat treated under various conditions. The results show that heat treatment conditions can change not only grain size but also (200) texture formation on the strip surface. Variation in magnetic properties of Fe-6.5%Si strip is analyzed in terms of the change in grain size as well as (200) texture on the strip surface. The heat treatment conditions of $1100^{\circ}C$ over 2 hr or $1150^{\circ}C$ $1{\sim}2hr$ in $N_2+5%H_2$ appear to minimize core loss of Fe-6.5%Si strips.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.237-242
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• 2005

In this paper, in order to develop the low temperature sintering ceramics for multilayer piezoelectric transformer, PMN-PZT ceramics were manufactured with the variations of sintering times, and their microstructural, piezoelectric and dielectric properties were investigated. Li$_2$CO$_3$ and Bi$_2$O$_3$ were used as sintering aids and the specimens were sintered during 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes, respectively. At the specimen sintered during 90 minute, mechanical quality factor(Qm), electro-mechanical coupling factor(kp) and dielectric constant were showed the optimum values of 2,356, 0.504 and 1,266, respectively.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2020

In general, the cause of slab cracking during heat treatment has been analyzed with focus on processing conditions. However, in the present work, the cause of cracking is analyzed based on the microstructural evolution during heat treatment. The microstructural analysis indicates that the structure of the slab consists of three main regions as the top, quarter, and center parts. The tensile properties are investigated in each region of the slab in the temperature range from 25 to 350 ℃. Results demonstrate that the cracking is mainly attributed to the thermal stress and specific morphology of the microstructure. It is proposed that the cracking during the heat treatment is related to the presence of inclusion at the ferrite phase which is located at the boundary of pearlite grains.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.350-358
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• 2004

The effects of alloying elements on microstructural features and mechanical properties in 0.55%C medium carbon steels were investigated. The samples were austenitized at 105$0^{\circ}C$ for 30min. followed by quenching in a salt bath in the temperature range of 500 ~ $620^{\circ}C$. The addition of Cr resulted in the decrease of the volume fraction of pro-eutectoid ferrite and interlamellar spacing in pearlite and the increase of strength. However, the addition of B caused the increase of the volume fraction of pro-eutectoid ferrite. Reduction of area and Charpy impact values were influenced by the combined effect of microstructural features, such as the volume fraction of pro-eutectoid ferrite, interlamellar spacing and the thickness of lamellar cementite in pearlite.