• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.303-308
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• 2024

The semiconductor and display industries require the development of plasma resistant materials for use in high density plasma etching process equipment. Yttria (Y₂O₃) is a ceramic material mainly used to ensure good plasma resistance properties, which requires a dense microstructure. In commercial production, a sintering process is applied to reduce the sintering temperature of Y₂O₃. In this study, the effect of the addition of glass frit to the sintered specimen was examined when manufacturing yttria sintered specimens for semiconductor process equipment parts. The Y₂O₃ specimen was shaped into a Ø50 mm size and then sintered at 1,600 ℃ for 1~8 h. The characteristics, X-ray diffraction pattern, densities, contraction rate of the specimen, and swelling of the surface of the Y₂O₃ specimens were investigated as a function of the sintering time and glass frit addition. The Y₂O₃ specimen exhibited a density of over 4.9 g/cm³ as the sintering time increased, and the swelling phenomenon characteristics were improved by glass frit, by controlling particle size.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2023

A Chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) of austenite stainless steel in dry cask storage system (DCSS) can occur with extending service time than originally designed. Cold spray coating (CSC) not only form a very dense microstructure that can protect from corrosive environments, but also can generate compressive stress on the surface. This characteristic of CSC process is very helpful to increase the resistance for CISCC. CSC with several powders, such as 304L, 316L and Ni can be optimized to form very dense coating layer. In addition, the impact energy generated as the CSC powder collides with the surface of base metal at a speed of Mach 2 or more can remove the residual tensile stress of welding area and serve the compress stress. CSC layers include no oxidation and no contamination with under 0.2% porosity, which is enough to protect from the penetration of corrosive chloride. Therefore, the CSC coating layer can be accompanied by a function that can be disconnected from the corrosive environment and an effect of improving the residual stress that causes CISCC, so the canister's CISCC resistance can be increased.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.9-15
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• 2024

The effect of the residual impurity on the prepreg surface on the wettability of encapsulant for chip on board package was analyzed with microstructure, compositions and chemical bonds using a scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. As a result, the contact angle of w/ residual impurity sample was measured to be 28° higher than that of w/o residual impurity sample, and the C-O bond was decreased to be 4% lower than that of w/o residual impurity sample. The surface energy of the prepreg decreased because the impurity ions, Na and F, generated by the manufacturing process and wet etching, reacted chemically with the C on the prepreg surface, forming C-F bonds and breaking the C-O bonds on the prepreg surface. Therefore, the wettability of the encapsulant was degraded because the contact angle between the encapsulant and the prepreg was increased.

• Archives of Metallurgy and Materials
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.907-911
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• 2019

Effects of various friction stir processing (FSP) variables on the microstructural evolution and microhardness of the AZ31 magnesium alloy were investigated. The processing variables include rotational and travelling speed of the tool, kind of second phase (i.e., diamond, Al₂O₃, and ZrO₂) and groove depth (i.e., volume fraction of second phase). Grain size, distribution of second phase particle, grain texture, and microhardness were analyzed as a function of the FSP process variables. The FSPed AZ31 composites fabricated with a high heat input condition showed the better dispersion of particle without macro defect. For all composite specimens, the grain size decreased and the microhardness increased regardless of the grooved depth compared with that of the FSPed AZ31 without strengthening particle, respectively. For the AZ31/diamond composite having a grain size of about 1 ㎛, microhardness (i.e., about 108 Hv) was about two times higher than that of the matrix alloy (i.e., about 52 Hv). The effect of second phase particle on retardation of grain growth and resulting hardness increase was discussed.

• Archives of Metallurgy and Materials
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.617-622
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• 2019

This study investigated the effect of T6 heat treatment on the microstructure and scratch wear behavior of hypoeutectic Al-12wt.%Si alloy manufactured by extrusion. Microstructural observation identified spherical eutectic Si phases before and after the heat treatment of alloys (F, T6). Phase analysis confirmed Al matrix and Si phase as well as Al₂Cu and Al₃Ni, Mg₂Si in both alloys. In particular, Al₂Cu was finer and more evenly distributed in T6 alloy. This resulted in Vickers hardness of T6 alloy that was 2.3 times greater compared to F alloy. The scratch wear test was conducted using constant load scratch test (CLST) mode and multi-pass scratch test (MPST) mode. The scratch coefficient and worn out volume obtained by such were used to evaluate wear properties before and after heat treatment. In the case of T6 alloy, its scratch coefficient was lower than F alloy in all load ranges. After 15 repeated tests to measure worn out volume, F alloy and T6 alloy measured 1.2×10^-1 mm³ and 7.8×10^-2 mm³, respectively. In other words, the wear resistance of T6 alloy were confirmed to be better than those of F alloy. In addition, this study attempted to identify the microstructural factors that contribute to the better scratch wear resistance of T6 alloy and wear mechanism from surface and cross-section observations after the wear tests.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1580-1591
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• 2024

Menopause is induced by spontaneous ovarian failure and leads to life quality deterioration with various irritating symptoms. Hormonal treatment can alleviate these symptoms, but long-term treatment is closely associated with breast and uterine cancer, and stroke. Therefore, developing alternative therapies with novel anti-menopausal substances and improved safety is needed. In our study, heat-killed Bifidobacterium breve HDB7040 significantly promoted MCF-7 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner under estrogen-free conditions, similar to 17β-estradiol. This strain also triggered ESR2 expression, but not ESR1, in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, administrating HDB7040 to ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rats reduced estrogen deficiency-induced weight gain, fat mass, blood triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels. It also recovered collapsed trabecular microstructure by improving trabecular morphometric parameters (bone mineral density, bone volume per tissue volume, trabecular number, and trabecular separation) and decreasing blood alkaline phosphatase levels with no significant changes in uterine size and blood estradiol. HDB7040 also significantly regulated the expression of Tff1, Pgr, and Esr2, but not Esr1 in uteri of OVX rats. Heat-killed B. breve HDB7040 exerts an anti-menopausal effect via the specific regulation of ERβ in vitro and in vivo, suggesting its potential as a novel substance for improving and treating menopausal syndrome.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.207-214
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• 2024

This study examines the effects of post-oxidation treatment on the microstructure and corrosion resistance of GC250 cast iron. The nitriding process was conducted at 570℃ for 180 minutes with a fixed nitriding potential (Kn) of 1.5, followed by post-oxidation at 450℃, 500℃, and 550℃ for 120 minutes. The post-oxidized specimens showed increased surface hardness and case depth compared to the nitrided specimens, with a maximum surface hardness of approximately 890 HV0.1. The oxidation process increased the thickness of the nitrided layer by more than 3 ㎛, with the oxide layer thickness reaching up to 2.5㎛ as the oxidation temperature increased. XRD analysis identified the presence of ε-phase, γ'-phase, and Fe₃O⁴ phase on the surface. Polarization tests revealed that the specimen treated at the highest oxidation temperature had a corrosion current density of 20.26 ㎂/cm² and a corrosion potential of -0.22V, indicating enhanced corrosion resistance compared to the nitrided specimen. This improvement is attributed to the formation and increased thickness of the oxide layer, which enhances corrosion resistance. In conclusion, the oxide layer formed through post-oxidation treatment significantly improves the corrosion resistance of GC250 cast iron, with the effect becoming more pronounced at higher oxidation temperatures.

• Archives of Metallurgy and Materials
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.699-702
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• 2021

Effect of Cu addition on oxide growth of Al-7 mass%Mg alloy at high temperature was investigated. As-cast microstructures of Al-7 mass%Mg and Al-7 mass%Mg-1 mass%Cu alloys showed α-Al dendrites and area of secondary particles. The 1 mass%Cu addition into Al-7 mass%Mg alloy formed Mg₃₂(Al, Cu)₄₉ ternary phase with β-Al₃Mg₂. The total fraction of two Mg-containing phases in Cu-added alloy was higher than the β-Al₃Mg₂ fraction in Cu-free alloy. From measured weight gains depending on time at 500℃ under an air atmosphere, it was shown that all samples exhibited significant weight gains depending on time. Al-7mass%Mg-1mass%Cu alloy showed the relatively increased oxidation rate when compared with Cu-free alloy. All the oxidized cross-sections throughout the entire oxidation time showed coarse and dark areas regarded as oxides grown from the surface to inside, but bigger oxidized areas were formed in the Al-7mass%Mg-1mass%Cu alloy containing higher fraction of Mg-based phases in the as-cast microstructure. As a result of compositional analysis on the oxide clusters, it was found that the oxide clusters contained Mg-based oxides formed through internal oxidation during a long time exposure to oxidizing environments.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.689-695
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• 2012

We have examined the co-doping effects of 1/2 mol% NiO and 1/4 mol% $Cr_2O_3$ (Ni:Cr = 1:1) on the reaction, microstructure, and electrical properties, such as the bulk defects and the grain boundary properties, of ZnO-$Bi_2O_3-Sb_2O_3$ (ZBS; Sb/Bi = 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0) varistors. The sintering and electrical properties of Ni,Cr-doped ZBS, ZBS(NiCr) varistors were controlled using the Sb/Bi ratio. Pyrochlore ($Zn_2Bi_3Sb_3O_{14}$), ${\alpha}$-spinel ($Zn_7Sb_2O_{12}$), and ${\delta}-Bi_2O_3$ were detected for all of compositions. For the sample with Sb/Bi = 1.0, the Pyrochlore was decomposed and promoted densification at lower temperature by Ni rather than by Cr. A homogeneous microstructure was obtained for all of the samples affected by ${\alpha}$-spinel. The varistor characteristics were not dramatically improved (non-linear coefficient, ${\alpha}$ = 5~24), and seemed to form ${Zn_i}^{{\cdot}{\cdot}}$(0.17 eV) and ${V_o}^{\cdot}$(0.33 eV) as dominant defects. From impedance and modulus spectroscopy, the grain boundaries were found to have been divided into two types, i.e., one is tentatively assigned to ZnO/$Bi_2O_3$ (Ni,Cr)/ZnO (0.98 eV) and the other is assigned to a ZnO/ZnO (~1.5 eV) homojunction.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 1999

The microstructure of ceramic composite has been found to be governed by the type and amount of the secondary phase, the sintering aid, and the sintering conditions such as sintering temperature, pressure and holing time. Moreover, tribological properties are strongly dependent on microsturcture of composite and operating conditions. In this study, silicon nitride with various amount of magnesia as a sintering aid were prepared and sintered by a hot pressing (HP) technique. Microstructure, mechanical properties (hardness, strength, and fracture toughness), and tribological properties in different environments of $Si_{3}N_{4}$ (in air, water, and paraffine oil) were investigated as a function of MgO content in $Si_{3}N_{4}$. As increasing the amount of MgO in $Si_{3}N_{4}$, the glassy phase in the grain boundaries enlarged the $\beta$-phase elongated grains, and also degraded the Hertzian contact damage resistance. Tribological behaviors in air was seemed to be determined by fracture toughness of $Si_{3}N_{4}$, and those in water and paraffin oil was seemed to be determined by hardness as well as strength. Since glassy grain-boundary phase (MgO) in $Si_{3}N_{4}$ expected to be reacted with water during sliding, such tribochemical reaction reduced wear. In paraffin oil under a higher applied load, the initial sliding dominated wear rate because of Hertzian contact damage.