발간논문

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A study has been carried out to evaluate the interaction behavior between a lanthanide element and clad material in order to analyze the effect of the lanthanide element on the fuel cladding chemical interaction (FCCI). A diffusion couple test between Misch metal (70Ce-30La) and ferritic-martensitic steel (Gr.92) was performed at 660℃, followed by a microstructural analysis of the coupled sample. The results showed that Ce in the Misch metal, rather than La, reacted with the ferritic-martensitic steel (FMS) to form an interaction layer that penetrated the clad thickness. Fe diffused outside the clad interface to form an Fe2Ce compound, leaving a depletion of Fe caused by excess diffusion as well as by the formation of Cr-rich precipitation inside the interaction layer. The rate of growth followed the cubic rate law, which indicated that Fe depletion was caused by the diffusion of Fe and that the associated Cr-rich phase formation controlled the whole diffusion process.

keyword : metals, annealing, diffusion, scanning electron microscopy, SEM, Lanthanide

We investigated the cryogenic temperature plasticity of a bulk amorphous alloy. Experiments showed that as temperature decreases, the plasticity of the alloy increases, such that the alloy exhibited ~20% of plastic strain when tested at -196℃. This enhancement in the plasticity at cryogenic temperatures was associated with the formation of abundant shear bands distributed uniformly over the entire surface of the sample. Nonetheless, the serrations, the characteristic feature of the plastic deformation of amorphous alloys, were unclear at -196℃. In this study, both the enhanced plasticity and the unclear serrations exhibited by the amorphous alloy at cryogenic temperatures were clarified by exploring shear banding behaviors in the context of the velocity and the viscosity of a propagating shear band.

keyword : amorphous alloy, cryogenic temperature plasticity, viscosity, shear band velocity

Effects of specimen thickness and notch shape on fracture mode appearing in drop weight tear test (DWTT) specimens of API X70 and X80 linepipe steels were investigated. Detailed microstructural analysis of fractured DWTT specimens showed that the fractures were initiated in normal cleavage mode near the specimen notch, and that some separations were observed at the center of the fracture surfaces. The Chevron-notch (CN) DWTT specimens had broader normal cleavage surfaces than the pressed-notch (PN) DWTT specimens. Larger inverse fracture surfaces appeared in the PN DWTT specimens because of the higher fracture initiation energy at the notch and the higher strain hardening in the hammer-impacted region. The number and length of separations were larger in the CN DWTT specimens than in the PN DWTT specimens, and increased with increasing specimen thickness due to the plane strain condition effect. As the test temperature decreased, the tendency to separations increased, but separations were not found when the cleavage fracture prevailed at very low temperatures. The DWTT test results, such as upper shelf energy and energy transition temperature, were discussed in relation with microstructures and fracture modes including cleavage fracture, shear fracture, inverse fracture, and separations.

keyword : DWTT, metals, rolling, mechanical properties, impact test

The degradation behavior of fuel cladding is a very import concern in nuclear power generation, because the operation of nuclear plants can be limited by fuel cladding degradation. In order to evaluate the hydride effect on failure of zirconium fuel claddings, a ring tensile test for the circumferential direction was carried out at room temperature for claddings having different hydride characteristics such as density and orientation; microstructural evaluation was also performed for those claddings. The circumferential failure of the claddings was promoted by increasing the hydride concentration in the matrix; however, the failure of the claddings was affected by the hydride orientation rather than by the hydride concentration in the matrix. From fracture surface observation, the cladding failure during the ring tensile test was matched with the hydride orientation.

keyword : metals, deformation, microstructure, tensile test, nuclear

The effect of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) in an electrolyte on the corrosion performance of magnesium alloy coated by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) has been investigated in this study. For this purpose, MAO coating was carried out on the present sample under AC condition in an alkaline silicate electrolyte with and without KMnO4. Irrespective of the addition of KMnO4, it was found from structural observation that the ceramic coating layers consisted of inner and outer layers. In the sample processed in the electrolyte with KMnO4, the outer layer became dense and even contained a number of Mn2O3 atoms, resulting in high corrosion resistance. Based on the results of a potentiodynamic polarization test, it was confirmed that the coating layer formed in the electrolyte with KMnO4 exhibited better corrosion resistance than that without KMnO4. The high corrosion resistance of the MAO-treated magnesium alloy was explained in relation to the equivalent circuit model.

keyword : alloys, coating, corrosion, scanning electron microscopy, SEM, electrochemiacl analysis

Aluminum, magnesium, titanium and high Mn steel are difficult to use in electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) sample preparation due to the formation of an oxidation layer under conventional polishing. Alcohol-based polishing with colloidal silica suspension was introduced for these delicate samples. A hard particle-embedded sample was analyzed successfully using mechanical polishing. Ion-milling was effective in removing oxidized, deformed and transformed layers after mechanical polishing and was able to reduce artifacts significantly. The microstructure of a cross-section of a thin copper film was evaluated by attachment of a dummy to the film for mechanical polishing.

keyword : EBSD, metals, microstructure, mechanical polishing, ion-milling

We studied the corrosion and oxidation properties of Fe-18Cr-0.4Nb-(0.1~0.6)Ti-(1~3)Si-(0.5~2)Mo stainless steel. The resistance to general and pitting corrosion was evaluated and the results were analyzed by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) as a function of alloy composition. The effects of alloy composition and heat treatment on the oxidation resistance were also examined. Mo increased both general corrosion resistance and pitting corrosion resistance. Si improved the resistance of the alloys to pitting corrosion. Si was also beneficial for general corrosion resistance of the alloys containing Mo at more than 1 wt.%. However, Mo was detrimental when its content was lower. Effects of Ti on general corrosion properties appeared to be weak and a high concentration of Ti appeared to deteriorate pitting resistance. The thickness of the oxidation scale increased and adhesion of the scale worsened as the temperature increased from 800℃ to 900℃. Weight gain of the alloys due to oxidation at 900℃ clearly showed that the resistance to oxidation is improved by annealing at 860℃ and an increase of Si content.

keyword : alloys, annealing, corrosion, oxidation, Response Surface Methodology

Low carbon steels were oxidized isothermally at 1050 and 1180℃ for 4 hr in air in order to determine the effect of alloying elements Si, S, Cu, Sn, and Ni on oxidation. For oxidation resistance of low carbon steels, the beneficial elements were Si, Cu, and Ni, whereas the harmful elements were S and Sn. The most active alloying element, Si, was scattered inside the oxide scale, at the scale-alloy interface, and as an internal oxide precipitate. The relatively noble elements such as Cu and Ni tended to weakly segregate at the scale-alloy interface. Sulfur and Sn were weakly, uniformly distributed inside the oxide scale. Excessively thick, non-adherent scales containing interconnected pores formed at 1180℃.

keyword : alloys, casting, oxidation, scanning electron microscopy, SEM scale

We report on the effect of additives on the microstructure and corrosion properties of electrodeposited Cu films. Copper films were fabricated by electrodeposition on various concentrations of gelatin in a copper sulfate electrolyte. The surface morphologies of the Cu films were observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and crystal orientation of the Cu films was analyzed by X-ray diffraction measurement. (220) plane was the dominant orientation when the films were fabricated at ambient temperature, decreasing in dominance with addition of gelatin. On the other hand, (111) plane-Cu films were preferentially grown at 40℃, and were also diminished with adding additives. Corrosion rate measurements using the Tafel extrapolation method based on corrosion potential and current reveal the effect of additives on corrosion behavior. Corrosion behavior was found to be strongly related to the orientation of the films. Consequently, additives like gelatin influence crystal orientation of the films, and if a less dense crystal plane, e.g. (220), is preferentially oriented during electrodeposition, a lower corrosion rate could be produced, since the plane shows a lower current density.

keyword : thin film, electrodeposition, additives, X-ray diffraction, corrosion

Oxygen equilibrium and the solubility of MgO have been measured in the CaO-Fe(t)O-MgO-SiO2(≤5 mass%)-ΣMxOy slag in equilibrium with liquid iron in the temperature range of 1550 to 1700℃. The effect of oxides on the MgO solubility, and a method for calculating the solubility of MgO using slag composition and temperature, were discussed. The solubility of MgO is increased with increasing temperature and Fe(t)O content, and with decreasing basicity (C/S). The effect of ΣMxOy on the solubility of MgO is a dilution effect due to the increase in slag volume. The activity and activity coefficient of Fe(t)O decreased with increasing basicity (B). The effect of temperature on the activity was negligible. The value of ρ=Fe3+/Fe2+ increased with the increase of the slag basicity (B") and the decrease of the Fe(t)O content in the slag.

keyword : Oxides, melting, slag, thermodynamic