• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2007

We fabricated thermally-evaporated 10 -Ni/(poly)Si and 10 -Ni/1 -Ir/(poly)Si structures to investigate the microstructure of nickel monosilicide at the elevated temperatures required for annealing. Silicides underwent rapid at the temperatures of 300-1200 for 40 seconds. Silicides suitable for the salicide process formed on top of both the single crystal silicon actives and the polycrystalline silicon gates. A four-point tester was used to investigate the sheet resistances. A transmission electron microscope(TEM) and an Auger depth profile scope were employed for the determination of vertical section structure and thickness. Nickel silicides with iridium on single crystal silicon actives and polycrystalline silicon gates shoed low resistance up to 1000 and 800, respectively, while the conventional nickle monosilicide showed low resistance below 700. Through TEM analysis, we confirmed that a uniform, 20 -thick silicide layer formed on the single-crystal silicon substrate for the Ir-inserted case while a non-uniform, agglomerated layer was observed for the conventional nickel silicide. On the polycrystalline silicon substrate, we confirmed that the conventional nickel silicide showed a unique silicon-silicide mixing at the high silicidation temperature of 1000. Auger depth profile analysis also supports the presence of thismixed microstructure. Our result implies that our newly proposed iridium-added NiSi process may widen the thermal process window for the salicide process and be suitable for nano-thick silicides.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.659-664
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• 2016

Ash deposition of heat exchange boiler, caused mainly by accumulation of particulate matter, reduces heat transfer of the boiler system. Heat and mass transfer through porous media such as ash deposits mainly depend on the microstructure of deposited ash. Therefore, in this study, we investigated microstructural and thermal properties of the ash deposited on the boiler tube. Samples for this research were obtained from the fuel economizer tube in an industrial waste incinerator. To characterize microstructures of the ash deposit samples, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and BET analysis were employed. The results revealed that it had a porous structure with small particles mostly of less than a few micrometers; the contents of Ca and S were 19.3, 22.6% and 18.5, 18.7%, respectively. Also, the results showed that it consisted mainly of anhydrite ($CaSO_4$) crystals. - The thermal conductivities of the ash deposit sample obtained from the economizer tube in industrial waste incinerator were measured to be 0.63 and 0.54 W/mK at $200^{\circ}C$, which were about 100 times less than the thermal conductivity (61.32 W/mK) of the boiler tube itself, indicating that ash deposition on the boiler tube was closely related to a decrease in boiler heat transfer.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.403-409
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• 2015

Metastable phase characteristics of beta Ti alloys were investigated to consider the relationship of the microstructure and diffraction pattern in TEM. TEM analysis showed that the microstructure was mottled as a modulated structure, and the diffraction pattern was composed of spot streaks between the main spots of a stable beta phase with a specific lattice relationship. The modulated structure may be induced by short distance slip or atom movement during a very short interval of solution treated and quenched (STQ) materials. The athermal ${\omega}$ phase, which could be precipitated at low temperature aging, is also analysed by the metastable phase. The metastable phases including athermal ${\omega}$ phase had a common characteristic of hardened and brittle behavior because the dislocation slip was restricted by a super lattice effect due to short distance atom movement at the metastable state.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2019

The metal-manufacturing method and smelting temperature of ancient metal-production processes have been studied by analyzing the principal elements and microstructures of slag. However, the microstructure of slag varies according to the solidification cooling rate and types and relative amounts of various oxides contained within the smelting materials. Hence, there is a need for accurate analysis methods that allow slag to be distinguished by more than its composition or microstructure. In this study, the microstructures of slag discharged as a result of smelting iron sands collected from Pohang and Gyeongju, as well as the slag excavated from the Ungyo site in Wanju, were analyzed by using metalloscopy, scanning election microscopy-energy dispersine X-ray spectroscopy(SEM-EDS) and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorenscence(WD-XRF). Furthermore, the microcrystals were accurately characterized by performing Raman micro-spectroscopy, which is a technique that can be used to identify the microcrystals of slags. SEM-EDS analysis of Pohang slag indicated that its white polygonal crystals could be Magnetite; however, Raman micro-spectroscopy revealed that these crystals were actually $ulv{\ddot{o}}spinel$. Raman micro-spectroscopy and SEM-EDS were also used to verify that the coarse white dendritic structures observed in the Gyeongju-slag were $W{\ddot{u}}stites$. Additionally, the Wanju slag was observed to have a glassy matrix, which was confirmed by Raman micro-spectroscopy to be Augite. Thus, we have demonstrated that Raman micro-spectroscopy can accurately identify slag microcrystals, which are otherwise difficult to distinguish as solely based on their chemical composition and crystal morphology. Therefore, we conclude that it has excellent potential as a slag analysis technique.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.96-107
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• 2022

PURPOSE. Microstructural and physico-mechanical characterization of highly translucent zirconia, prepared by milling technology (CAD-CAM) and repeated firing cycles, was the main aim of this in vitro study. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Two groups of samples of two commercial highly-translucent yttria-stabilized dental zirconia, VITA YZ-HT^White (Group A) and Zolid HT + White (Group B), with dimensions according to the ISO 6872 "Dentistry - Ceramic materials", were prepared. The specimens of each group were divided into two subgroups. The specimens of the first subgroups (Group A₁ and Group B₁) were merely the sintered specimens. The specimens of the second subgroups (Group A₂ and Group B₂) were subjected to 4 heat treatment cycles. The microstructural features (microstructure, density, grain size, crystalline phases, and crystallite size) and four mechanical properties (flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness) of the subgroups (i.e. before and after heat treatment) were compared. The statistical significance between the subgroups (A₁/A₂, and B₁/B₂) was evaluated by the t-test. In all tests, P values smaller than 5% were considered statistically significant. RESULTS. A homogenous microstructure, with no residual porosity and grains sized between 500 and 450 nm for group A and B, respectively, was observed. Crystalline yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia was exclusively registered in the X-ray diffractograms. The mechanical properties decreased after the heat treatment procedure, but the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION. The produced zirconia ceramic materials can be safely (i.e., according to the ISO 6872) used in extensive fixed prosthetic restorations, such as substructure ceramics for three-unit prostheses involving the molar restoration and substructure ceramics for prostheses involving four or more units. Consequently, milling technology is an effective manufacturing technology for producing zirconia substructures for dental fixed all-ceramic prosthetic restorations.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2023

In additive manufacturing, the flowability of feedstock particles determines the quality of the parts that are affected by different parameters, including the chemistry and morphology of the powders and particle size distribution. In this study, the microstructures and flowabilities of gas-atomized heat-resistant alloys for additive manufacturing applications are investigated. A KHR45A alloy powder with a composition of Fe-30Cr-40Mn-1.8Nb (wt.%) is fabricated using gas atomization process. The microstructure and effect of powder chemistry and morphology on the flow behavior are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and revolution powder analysis. The results reveal the formation of spherical particles composed of single-phase FCC dendritic structures after gas atomization. SEM observations show variations in the microstructures of the powder particles with different size distributions. Elemental distribution maps, line scans, and high-resolution XPS results indicate the presence of a Si-rich oxide accompanied by Fe, Cr, and Nb metal oxides in the outer layer of the powders. The flowability behavior is found to be induced by the particle size distribution, which can be attributed to the interparticle interactions and friction of particles with different sizes.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.581-589
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• 2018

This work concentrated on the effect of different laser beams on the microstructure and dielectric properties of $BaTiO_3$ nanoparticles at different calcinations times during the gelling preparation step. The nanoparticles were prepared by the sol-gel method. A green (1000 mW, 532 nm) and red laser beam (500 mW, 808 nm), were applied vertically at the center of stirring raw materials. The samples were sintered at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 2, 4, and 6 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that samples prepared under the green laser have the highest purity. The FT-IR spectra showed that the stretching and bending vibrations of TiO bond without any other bonds, which are compatible to the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results. Samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scan electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Characterization showed the samples prepared under the green laser to have the highest particle size (~ 50 nm) and transparency for all sintering durations. Laser beam effects on electrical characterization were studied. BT nanoparticles prepared under the green laser show the higher dielectric constant, which was found to increase with sintering temperature.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.644-650
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• 1994

The submicron powders of high-purity silicon have been produced by Electrohydrodynamic Atomization. Field-emission scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM) is used to determine the microstructure and solidification phase. .Then it is found that the droplets less than 60nm diameter are solidified as the amorphous phase. A useful and accessible characterization of atomic arrangements in amorphous solids can be given in terms of a radial distribution function. According to experimental determinations of the radial distribution function for amorphous silicon, its similarity to the crystalline structure at small radial distances indicates that the basic tetrahedral arrangement found in the diamond cubic structure of silicon must be maintained in the amorphous structure.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.212-217
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• 2012

This paper reports the effects of post-annealing of ZnO thin films on their microstructure and the device performance of the transistors fabricated from the films. From X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy characterization, we uncovered that the grain size increased with the annealing temperature escalating and that the film stress shifted from compressive to tensile due to the grain size increment. Electrical characterization revealed that the grain size increase damaged the device performance by drastically lifting the off-current level. By annealing the devices in an $O_2$ ambient (instead of air), we were able to suppress the off-current while improving the electron mobility.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.152-157
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• 2004

Ti-Al-N ($Ti_{75}$ $Al_{25}$ N) and Ti-Al-Si-N ($Ti_{69}$ $Al_{23}$ $Si_{8}$N) coatings synthesized by a DC magnetron sputtering technique were studied comparatively with respect to phase characterization and high-temperature oxidation behavior. $Ti_{69}$ $Al_{23}$ $Si_{ 8}$N coating had a nanocomposite microstructure consisting of nanosized(Ti,Al,Si)N crystallites and amorphous $Si_3$$N_4$, with smooth surface morphology. Ti-Al-N coating of which surface $Al_2$$O_3$ layer formed during oxidation suppressed further oxidation. It was sufficiently stable against oxidation up to about $700^{\circ}C$. Ti-Al-Si-N coating showed better oxidation resistance because both surface Ab03 and near-surface $SiO_2$ layers suppressed further oxidation. XRD, GDOES, XPS, and scratch tests were performed.