• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.343-353
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• 2017

Processing and equipment were tailored for engineering scale fabrication of $UO_2$ porous pellets, a feed material for the electrolytic reduction process in the PRIDE (PyRoprocessing Integrated DEmonstration) facility at KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute). The starting materials, $UO_2$ powder and pre-milled surrogate oxide powders, were proportioned to simulate the chemical composition of spent fuel (so-called Simfuel). The Simfuel powders were homogenized by mixing, compacted into a pellet shape, and finally heat treated using a tumbling mixer, rotary press, and sintering furnace. After sintering at $1450^{\circ}C$ for 24 h in $4%\;H_2-Ar$, the average bulk density of the $UO_2$ Simfuel pellets was $6.89g{\cdot}cm^{-3}$, which meets the standard of the following electrolytic reduction process. In addition, the results of a microstructural analysis demonstrated that the sintered Simfuel $UO_2$ porous pellets accurately simulate the properties of spent fuel in terms of the formation of second phases. These results provide essential information for the massive fabrication of $UO_2$ porous pellets for engineering scale pyroprocessing research.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.79-79
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• 2010

저온용 무연 솔더의 대표 조성으로 고려되고 있는 Sn-58Bi(융점: $138^{\circ}C$) 공정(eutectic) 조성은 우수한 강도에도 불구하고 연성(ductility) 측면에서의 문제점이 지속적으로 보고되고 있다. 따라서 이 합금계의 연성을 최대로 개선시킬 수 있으면서도 실제 상용화가 가능한 합금 조성의 개발 연구가 요청된다. 본 연구에서는 Sn-Bi 2원계 조성에서 최대의 연성을 나타내는 것으로 보고된 Sn-40Bi 조성에 미량의 합금원소를 첨가함으로써 최대의 연성을 확보하는 한편, 그 연성 특성이 변형속도에 어느 정도 민감한지를 인장 실험을 통해 결정하고자 하였다. 합금원소로는 0.1~0.5 wt%의 Ag, Mn, In, Cu를 선택하였으며, 인장 시편을 제조하여 $10^{-2}$, $10^{-3}$, $10^{-4}\;s^{-1}$의 3종류로 변형속도를 변형시켜가며 응력-변형 곡선(stress-strain curve)을 측정하였고, 조성별, 변형속도별로 최대인장강도(ultimate tensile stress, UTS) 및 연신율 결과들을 정리하였다. 합금원소를 첨가한 조성의 경우는 모든 시험 조건에서 Sn-40Bi보다 우수한 연신률을 나타내는 것으로 측정되었으나, $10^{-2}\;s^{-1}$의 빠른 변형속도에서는 그 향상 정도가 상대적으로 감소하는 경향이 관찰되었다. 특히 Sn-40Bi-0.5Ag 조성의 경우 느린 변형속도에서 특히 눈에 띄는 연신률 값을 나타내며, 모든 변형속도 조건에서 가장 우수한 연성을 나타내었다. 한편 Sn-40Bi-0.1Cu 조성의 경우 변형속도에 따른 연신률의 변화 정도, 즉, 변형속도에 따른 연신률의 민감도가 매우 커 $10^{-4}\;s^{-1}$ 속도에서는 Sn-40Bi-0.5Ag에 버금가는 연신률 값이 측정되었으나, $10^{-2}\;s^{-1}$ 속도에서는 가장 나쁜 연신률 특성을 보여주었다. Sn-40Bi-0.2Mn 조성은 최고의 연신률 향상 특성을 나타내지는 않았으나, In을 첨가한 경우보다는 대체적으로 우수한 연성을 나타내었다. 이상의 각 합금별 연성 특성은 인장시험 전의 미세조직 관찰 결과와 인장시험 후 파면부의 조직변화 관찰 결과로부터 해석되었다. 그 결과 석출상의 형성 여부, 인장 시험 중 재결정 조직의 형성 여부, 라멜라(lamellar) 조직의 분율과 라멜라 간격(lamellar spacing)의 정도 또는 $\beta$-Sn과 라멜라 조직 사이의 결정립계와 라멜라 조직 내 결정립계에서의 슬라이딩 모드(sliding mode) 변형 정도, 석출상의 크기와 분포 정도 등이 연신률 및 변형속도 민감도와 같은 연성 특성에 가장 큰 영향을 미치는 인자인 것으로 분석되었다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 1999

To investigate the effect of niobium and tin on the mechanical properties of zirconium alloys, the tensile test and the microstructural analysis were performed on the Zr-based binary(Zr-xNb, Zr-xSn) and ternary(Zr-0.8Sn-xNb, Zr-0.4Nb-xSn) alloys. As the content of Nb or Sn element increased, the strengths of the Zr-based alloys tended to gradually increase. The increase of mechanical strength was remarkable strength was remarkable in the range more than the solubility of Nb and Sn. The strengthening effects were discussed on the basis of the solid solution hardening, the precipitate hardening, the grain size effect, and the texture effect. The mechanical strength is mainly controlled by the solid solution hardening and additionally by the precipitate hardening in the content more than solubility limit of Nb and Sn. The grain refinement also has a slight effect on the strength of the zirconium alloys with the addition of Nb and Sn. However, the texture effect can be excluded due to the same Kearns number regardless of the content of alloying elements.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.2498-2508
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• 1993

$Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ hybrid composites are fabricated by squeeze infiltration method. From the misconstructive of $Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ hybrid composites fabricated by squeeze infiltration method, uniform distribution of reinforcements and good bondings are found. Hardness value of $Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ hybrid composites increases linearly with the volume fraction of reinforcement because SiC whisker and $Al_{2}$O$_{3}$ fiber have an outstanding hardness. Optimal aging conditions are obtained by examining the hardness of $Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ hybrid composites with different aging time. Tensile properties such as Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength are improved up to 30% and 40% by the addition of reinforcements, respectively. Failure mode of $Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ hybrid composites is ductile on microstructural level. Through the abrasive wear test and wear surface analysis, wear behaviour and mechanism of 6061 aluminum and $Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ hybrid composites are characterized under various testing conditions. The addition of SiC whisker to $Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ composites gives rise to improvement of the wear resistance. The wear resistance of $Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ hybrid composites is superior to that of Al/SiC composites. The wear mechanism of aluminum alloy is mainly abrasive wear at low speed range and adhesive and melt wear at high speed range. In contrast, that of $Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ hybrid composites is abrasive wear at all speed range, but severe wear when counter material is stainless steel. As the testing temperature increases, wear loss of aluminum alloy decreases because the matrix is getting more ductile, but that of $Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ hybrid composites is hardly varied. Oil lubricant is more effective to reduce the wear loss of aluminum alloy and $Al/SiC/Al_{2}O_{3}$ hybrid composites at high speed range.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2016

This paper presents an investigation into the durability alkali-activated materials(AAM) mortar and paste samples manufactured using fly-ash(FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBFS) exposed to a sulfate environment with different GGBFS replace ratios(0, 30, 50 and 100%), sodium silicate modules($Ms[SiO_2/Na_2O]$ 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0) and initial curing temperatures($23^{\circ}C$ and $70^{\circ}C$). The tests involved immersions for a period of 6 months into 10% solutions of sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate. The evolution of compressive strength, weight, length expansion and microstructural observation such as x-ray diffraction were studied. As a results, as higher GGBFS replace ratio or Ms shown higher compressive strengths on 28 days. In case of immersed in 10% sodium sulfate solution, the samples shows increase in long-term strength. However, for samples immersed in magnesium sulfate solutions, the general observation was that the compressive strength decreased after immersion. The most drastic reduction of compressive strength and expansion of weight and length occurred when GGBFS or Ms ratios were higher. Also, the XRD analysis of samples immersed in magnesium sulfate indicated that expansion of AAM caused by gypsum($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$); the gypsum increased up to 6 months continuously.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.359-368
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• 2020

This study is aimed at improving the plasma resistance of Al₂O₃ ceramics on which plasma resistant YAS(Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃-SiO₂) frit is melt-coated using a simple heat-treatment process. For this purpose, the results of phase analysis and microstructural observations of the prepared YAS frits and the coating layers on the Al₂O₃ ceramics according to the batch compositions are compared and discussed with regard to the results of plasma resistance test. The prepared YAS frits consist of crystalline or amorphous or co-existing crystalline and amorphous phases according to the batch compositions, depending on the role and content of each raw material. The prepared YAS frit is melt-coated on the densely sintered Al₂O₃ ceramics, resulting in a dense coating layer with a thickness of at least ~ 80 ㎛. The YAS coating layer consists of crystalline YAG(Y₃Al₅O₁₂), Y₂Si₂O₇, and Al₂O₃ phases, and YAS glass phase. Plasma resistance of YAS coated Al₂O₃ ceramics is strongly dependent on the content of the YAG(Y₃Al₅O₁₂) and Y₂Si₂O₇ crystalline phases in the coating layer, especially on the content of the YAG phase. Comparing the weight loss of YAS coating ceramics with values obtained for commercial Y₂O₃, Al₂O₃, and quartz ceramics, the plasma resistance of the YAS coating ceramics is 6 times higher than that of quartz, 2 times higher than that of Al₂O₃, and 50 % of the resistance of Y₂O₃.

• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2017

The hardening effect by ice-quenching after oxidation of a Pd-Ag-Sn-Au metal-ceramic alloy during porcelain firing simulation was investigated by means of hardness test, field emission scanning electron microscopic observations, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The hardness decreased by ice-quenching after oxidation, which was induced by the homogenization of the ice-quenched specimen. The decreased hardness by ice-quenching after oxidation was recovered from the wash stage which was the first stage of the remaining firing process for bonding porcelain. After wash stage, the hardness of the ice-quenched specimens decreased during the subsequent porcelain firing process. But the final hardness of the ice-quenched specimens after oxidation was higher than that of the specimens cooled at stage 0 after oxidation. The increase in hardness of the specimens during the first firing process was caused by the lattice strains generated at the interface between the face-centered cubic Pd-Ag-rich matrix and the face-centered tetragonal Pd3(Sn, Ga, In) precipitate. The decrease in hardness of the specimens during the remaining firing process was caused by the microstructural coarsening.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.1044-1062
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• 2017

The construction project of the Kijang research reactor (KJRR), which is the second research reactor in Korea, has been launched. The KJRR was designed to use, for the first time, U-Mo fuel. Plate-type U-7 wt.% Mo/Al-5 wt.% Si, referred to as U-7Mo/Ale5Si, dispersion fuel with a uranium loading of $8.0gU/cm^3$, was selected to achieve higher fuel efficiency and performance than are possible when using $U_3Si_2/Al$ dispersion fuel. To qualify the U-Mo fuel in terms of plate geometry, the first miniplates [HANARO Miniplate (HAMP-1)], containing U-7Mo/Al-5Si dispersion fuel ($8gU/cm^3$), were fabricated at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and recently irradiated at HANARO. The PIE (Post-irradiation Examination) results of the HAMP-1 irradiation test were analyzed in depth in order to verify the safe in-pile performance of the U-7Mo/Al-5Si dispersion fuel under the KJRR irradiation conditions. Nondestructive analyses included visual inspection, gamma spectrometric mapping, and two-dimensional measurements of the plate thickness and oxide thickness. Destructive PIE work was also carried out, focusing on characterization of the microstructural behavior using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Electron probe microanalysis was also used to measure the elemental concentrations in the interaction layer formed between the U-Mo kernels and the matrix. A blistering threshold test and a bending test were performed on the irradiated HAMP-1 miniplates that were saved from the destructive tests. Swelling evaluation of the U-Mo fuel was also conducted using two methods: plate thickness measurement and meat thickness measurement.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.311-316
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• 2021

In this study, TiC/steel metal matrix composites were fabricated by powder metallurgy process using Fealloy powders with 3 wt.% Cr and 10 wt.% Cr, respectively, as matrix material. Subsequently, the composite samples were heat treated by the annealing and quenching-tempering(Q-T), respectively, to understand the effect of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of the composites. The correlation between microstructure and structural strength depending on the chromium content and the heat treatment conditions was studied through tensile, compressive, and transverse rupture test and microstructural analysis. In the case of TiC/steel composite containing 10 wt.% Cr, the tensile strength and transverse rupture strength at room temperature were significantly lowered by the influence of coarse chromium carbide formed at the TiC/steel interface. On the other hand, both TiC/steel composites containing 3 wt.% Cr and 10 wt.% Cr showed much higher compressive strength of about 4 GP after quenching-tempering compared to the annealed specimens regardless of the presence of the chromium carbide.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.2860-2866
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• 2020

Oxide dispersion-strengthened materials W-1wt%Pr₂O₃ and W-1wt%La₂O₃ were synthesized by wet chemical method and spark plasma sintering. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis, XRD and Vickers microhardness measurements were conducted to characterize the samples. The irradiations were carried out with a 5 keV helium ion beam to fluences up to 5.0 × 10²¹ ions/m² under 600 ℃ using the low-energy ion irradiation system. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study was performed to investigate the microstructural evolution in W-1wt%Pr₂O₃ and W-1wt%La₂O₃. At 1.0 × 10²⁰ He⁺/m², the average loops size of the W-1wt%Pr₂O₃ was 4.3 nm, much lower than W-1wt% La₂O₃ of 8.5 nm. However, helium bubbles were not observed throughout in both doped W materials. The effects of pre-irradiation with 1.0 × 10²¹ He⁺/m² on trapping of injected deuterium in doped W was studied by thermal desorption spectrometry (TDS) technique using quadrupole mass spectrometer. Compared with the samples without He⁺ pre-irradiation, deuterium (D) retention of doped W materials increased after He⁺ irradiation, whose retention was unsaturated at the damage level of 1.0 × 10²²D₂⁺/m². The present results implied that irradiation effect of He⁺ ions must be taken into account to evaluate the deuterium retention in fusion material applications.