• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 1995

The microstructure of 95wt.%Pb/5wt.%Sn and 63wt.%Sn/37wt.%Pb solders for flip chip bonding process has been characterized. Solders were deposited by thermal evaporation and reflowed in the conventional furnace or by rapid thermal annealing(RTA) process. As-deposited films show columnar structure. The microstructure of furnace cooled 63Sn/37Pb solder shows typical lamellar form, but that of RTA treated solder has the structure showing an uniform dispersion of Pb-rich phase in Sn matrix. The grain size of 95Pb/5Sn solder reflowed in the furnace is about $5\mu\textrm{m}$, but the grain size of RTA treated solder is too small to be observed. The microstructure in 63Sn/37Pb solder bump shows the segregation of Pb phase in the Sn rich matrix regardless of reflowing method. The 63Sn/37Pb solder bump formed by RTA process shows more uniform microstructure. These result are related to the heat dissipation in the solder bump.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.405-415
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• 1999

In general, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is usually used in the investigation of polymer microstructure. Microtoming, solution casting, staining and carbon replica method are frequently introduced to the study of the polymer morphology with TEM, however the sample preparation procedure of those techniques is very difficult, and it takes a long time. The purpose of this study is to develop a new sample preparation technique which is suitable for the investigation of the various shapes and species of polyolefin microstructure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By modifying the conventional chemical etching method, we developed a new chemical etching technique and sample preparation procedure that are suitable for SEM study of polymer microstructure. In this study the permanganate etching method is introduced and the optimum etching condition are determined by simply adjusting the etchant formulation, concentration and etching time. This technique has shown good reproducibility and it's morphological results agree well with other works on various types of microstructures such as spherulite characterization of isotatic polypropylene $(\alpha/\beta)$, polyethylene and poly-propylene copolymer characterization, and the study of lamellar growth pattern of unsheared or oriented materials. This technique has also been applied to the industrial fields for characterization of the polyolefin film, automobile products and the others.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2020

In this study, we report the microstructure and characterization of Ta₂₀Nb₂₀V₂₀W₂₀Ti₂₀ high-entropy alloy powders and sintered samples. The effects of milling time on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated in detail. Microstructure and structural characterization were performed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The mechanical properties of the sintered samples were analyzed through a compressive test at room temperature with a strain rate of 1 × 10^-4 s^-1. The microstructure of sintered Ta₂₀Nb₂₀V₂₀W₂₀Ti₂₀ high-entropy alloy is composed of a BCC phase and a TiO phase. A better combination of compressive strength and strain was achieved by using prealloyed Ta₂₀Nb₂₀V₂₀W₂₀Ti₂₀ powder with low oxygen content. The results suggest that the oxide formed during the sintering process affects the mechanical properties of Ta₂₀Nb₂₀V₂₀W₂₀Ti₂₀ high-entropy alloys, which are related to the interfacial stability between the BCC matrix and TiO phase.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2017

Drastic development of ubiquitous devices requires more advanced batteries with high specific capacitance and high rate capability. Large-area microstructure characterization across the stacks of cathode, electrolyte and anode might reveal the origin of the instability or degradation of batteries upon cycling charge. In this study, sample preparation methods to observe the cross-section view of the electrodes for battery in SEM and several imaging tips are reviewed. For an accurate evaluation of the microstructure, ion milling which flats the surface uniformly is recommended. Pros and cons of cross-section polishing (CP) with Ar ion and focused ion beam (FIB) with Ga ion were compared. Additionally, a modified but new cross-section milling technique utilizing precision ion polishing system (PIPS) which can be an alternative method of CP is developed. This simple approach will make the researchers have more chances to prepare decent large-area cross-section electrode for batteries.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2021

In the periodic surveillance material test for the spacer component of fuel channel assembly in CANDU, a microstructural characterization analysis is required in addition to the mechanical property evaluation test. In this study, detailed microstructure analysis and simple mechanical property evaluation of archive spacer parts were conducted to indirectly support the surveillance test and assist in the study of spacer material degradation. We investigated the microstructural characteristics of the spacer garter spring coil through comparative analysis with the plate material. The main microstructure characteristics of the garter spring coil X-750 are represented by the fine grain size distribution, the ordering phase distribution developed inside the matrix, the high dislocation density inside the grains, and the arrangement of coarse carbides. In addition, the yield strength of the garter spring coil X-750 was indirectly evaluated to be approximately 1 GPa. We also established an analytical method to elucidate the microstructural evolution of the radioactive spacer garter spring coil X-750 based on Canadian research experiences. Finally, we confirmed the measurement technique for helium bubble formation through TEM examination on the helium implanted X-750 material.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09b
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• pp.1061-1062
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• 2006

This paper presents a new approach for analyzing the microstructure of $SiC_p$-reinforced aluminum matrix composites from digital images. Various samples of aluminum matrix composite were fabricated by hot pressing the powder mixtures with certain volume and size combinations of pure Al and SiC particles. Microstructures of the samples were analyzed by computer-based image processing methods. Since the conventional methods are not suitable for separating phases of such complex microstructures, some new algorithms have been developed for the improved recognition and characterization of the particles in the metal matrix composites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.409-412
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• 2004

Microstructures and mechanical properties of microalloyed cold forging steel and cold forged prototype automobile part are characterized. The work hardening according to the increase of plastic strain plays a major role in increasing the tensile strength of microalloyed cold forging steel during cold forming. On the other hand, inhomogeneous distribution of plastic strain causes variations in microstructure and mechanical properties. The relation between inhomogeneous distribution of plastic strain and variations in microstructure and mechanical properties is discussed. The variation of mechanical property in cold forged automobile part is analyzed using quantitative evaluation of plastic strain from finite element method.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.154-157
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• 2007

The austenite phase observed in low carbon HSLA steels is well known to be decomposed to various bainitic microstructures, such as granular bainite, acicular ferrite and bainitic ferrite during continuous cooling process. These bainitic microstructures have been usually identified by using either scanning electron microscope (SEM) or transmission electron microscope (TEM). However, SEM and TEM images do no exactly coincide, because of the quite different sample preparation method in SEM and TEM observations. These conventional analysis method is, thus, not suitable for characterization of the complex bainitic microstructure. In this study, focused ion beam (FIB) technique was applied to make site-specific TEM specimens and to identify the 3-dimensional grain morphologies of the bainitic microstructure. The morphological feature and grain boundary characteristics of each bainitic microstructure were exactly identified.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.575-580
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• 2016

Microstructural design of ceramics has generally focused on information gathered at the micro- and macro-scales and related this to how specific properties could be improved. Ceramic processing serves as the key to optimizes the final microstructure. However, the advent of nano-scale microstructures and highly advanced characterization tools are forcing us to develop new knowledge of what is occurring not just at the micro-scale but also at the atomic level. Thus we are now beginning to be able to address how microstructure is influenced by events at the atomic scale using atomic scale images and data. Theoreticians have joined us in interpreting the mechanisms involved in the "microstructural" evolution at multiple scales and how this can be used to enhance specific properties of ceramics. The focus here is on delving into the various layers the "microstructure" in order understand how atomic-scale events influence the structure and properties of ceramics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 1994.04c
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• pp.29-29
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• 1994