High-strength low-alloy steel is one of the widely used materials in onshore and offshore plant engineering. We investigated the alloying effect of solute atoms in α-Fe based alloy using ab initio calculations. Empirical equations were used to establish the effect of alloying on the Vicker’s hardness, screw energy coefficient, and edge dislocation energy coefficient of the steel. Screw and edge energy coefficients were improved by the addition of V and Cr solute atoms. In addition, the addition of trace quantities of V, Cr, and Mn enhanced abrasion resistance. Solute atoms and contents with excellent mechanical properties were selected and their thermal conductivity and thermal expansion behavior were investigated. The addition of Cr atom is expected to form alloys with low thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient. This study provides a better understanding of the state-of-the-art research in low-alloy steel and can be used to guide researchers to explore and develop α-Fe based alloys with improved properties, that can be fabricated in smart and cost-effective manners.

In this study, an Co/Fe coated porcelain using a cobalt and ferrous sulfate was sintered at 1,250 oC. The specimens were investigated by HR-XRD, FE-SEM (EDS), Dilatometer, and UV-vis spectrophotometer. The surface of the porcelain was uniformly fused with the pigment, and white ware and celadon body specimens were densely fused to a certain thickness from the surface. Other new compounds were produced by the chemical reaction of cobalt/ferrous sulfate with the porcelain body during the sintering process. These compounds were identified as cobalt ferrite spinel phases for white ware and white mixed ware, and an andradite phase for the celadon body, and the amorphous phase, respectively. As for the color of the specimens coated with cobalt and ferrous mixed pigments, it was found that the L* value was greatly affected by the white ware, and the a* and b* values were significantly changed in the celadon body. The L* values of the specimens fired with pure white ware, celadon body, and white mix ware were 72.1, 60.92, 82.34, respectively. The C7F3 pigment coated porcelain fired at 1,250 oC had L* values of 39.91, 50.17, and 40.53 for the white ware, celadon body, and white mixed ware, respectively; with a* values of -1.07, -2.04, and -0.19, and at b* values of 0.46 and 6.01, it was found to be 4.03. As a new cobalt ferrite spinel phase was formed, it seemed to have had a great influence on the color change of the ceramic surface.

NbC, HfC, TaC, and their solid solution ceramics have been identified as the best materials for ultrahigh-temperature ceramics. However, their structural stability and elastic properties are mostly unclear. Thus, we investigated structure and elastic properties of (Nb1-xTax)C and (Nb1-xHfx)C solid solutions via ab initio calculations. Our calculated results show that the stability of (Nb1-xTax)C and (Nb1-xHfx)C increases with the increase of Hf and Ta content, and (Nb1-xHfx)C is more stable than (Nb1-xTax)C at the same content of Hf and Ta. The lattice constants decrease with increasing of Hf and Ta content. (Nb1-xTax)C and (Nb1-xHfx)C carbides are mechanically stable and brittle. Bulk modulus of (Nb1-xTax)C increases with increasing Ta content. In contrast, bulk modulus of (Nb1-xHfx)C decreases with increasing Hf content. Hardness of solid solutions shows the highest values at the (Nb0.25Ta0.75)C and (Nb0.75Hf0.25)C. In particular, (Nb0.75Hf0.25)C shows the highest hardness for the current system. The results indicate that the overall mechanical properties of (Nb1-xHfx)C solid solutions are superior to those of (Nb1-xTax)C solid solutions. Therefore, controlling the Hf and Ta element and content of the (Nb1-xTax)C and (Nb1-xHfx)C Solid solution is crucial for optimizing the material properties.

This study investigated the reaction between clay and Mn. Mn was coated using a manganese sulfate on porcelain plate and sintered from 1,100 oC to 1,250 oC. The body begin to shrink around 950 oC with the increase in temperature and rapidly progressed after 1,100 oC. Shrinkage of celadon body was performed at a lower temperature than for other substrates. Quartz, kaolin, and feldspar were the main crystalline phases of the starting materials, but they became mullite and crystobalite during the firing process, and some formed amorphous glass. When manganese sulfate was applied and fired, manganese oxide was fused, and some manganese oxide reacted with the substrate to show a dense microstructure different from that of the substrate; the substrate had pores. The manganese coated porcelain fired at 1,200 oC had L* values of 55.25, 36.87, and 37.13 for the white ware, celadon body, and white mixed ware, respectively; with a* values of 4.63, 3.07, and 2.15, and b* values of 7.93 and 3.98, it was found to be 3.42. This result indicated that the color of the surface was affected during firing by the chemical reaction between the substrate and manganese.

The purpose of this study is to prepare WO3 nanopowders by high-energy milling in mixture gas (7 % H2+Ar) with various milling times (10, 30, and 60 min). The phase transformation, particle size and light absorption properties of WO3 nanopowders during reduction via high-energy milling are studied. It is found that the particle size of the WO3 decreases from about 30 μm to 20 nm, and the grain size of WO3 decreases rapidly with increasing milling time. Furthermore, the surface of the particles due to the pulverization process is observed to change to an amorphous structure. UV/Vis spectrophotometry shows that WO3 powder with increasing milling times (10, 30, 60 min) effectively extends the light absorption properties to the visible region. WO3 powder changes from yellow to gray and can be seen as a phenomenon in which the progress of the color changes to blue. The characterization of WO3 is performed by high resolution X-ray diffractometry, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, UV/Vis spectrophotometry and Particle size analysis.

In this study, an α-Fe2O3 (hematite) coated porcelain plate was sintered in a temperature range from 1100 oC to 1250 oC using ferrous sulfate. The specimens were investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and UV-visible spectrophotometer. It was confirmed that α-Fe2O3 (hematite) was densely fused to the surface at several tens of μm, the α-Fe2O3 (hematite) was in the form of thin platelet and polyhedra, and no other compounds appeared in the sintering process. In the specimen coated with α-Fe2O3 (hematite), the reflectance spectra show a red absorption band of 560-650 nm. The L* value decreased from 53.18 to 46.94 with the firing temperature. The values of a* and b* were at 19.03 and 15.25 at 1100 oC and gradually decreased with increasing temperature; these values decreased rapidly at 1250 oC to 11.54 and 7.98, respectively. It is considered that the new phases are formed by the phase transition of the porcelain plate (clay), and thus the a* and b* values are greatly influenced.

Geopolymers have many advantages over Portland cement, including energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, high strength at early age and improved thermal resistance. Alkali activated geopolymers made from waste materials such as fly ash or blast furnace slag are particularly advantageous because of their environmental sustainability and low cost. However, their durability and functionality remain subjects for further study. Geopolymer materials can be used in various applications such as fire and heat resistant fiber composites, sealants, concretes, ceramics, etc., depending on the chemical composition of the source materials and the activators. In this study, we investigated the thermal properties and microstructure of fly ash and blast furnace slag based geopolymers in order to develop eco-friendly construction materials with excellent energy efficiency, sound insulation properties and good heat resistance. With different curing times, specimens of various compositions were investigated in terms of compressive strength, X-ray diffraction, thermal property and microstructure. In addition, we investigated changes in X-ray diffraction and microstructure for geopolymers exposed to 1,000 oC heat.

In this paper, cerium doped lutetium pyrosilicate (LPS) powders with cerium content (0.05 and 0.07 mol%) were prepared by sol-gel process. The formation of lutetium pyrosilicate (LPS) phase was confirmed by XRD analysis for the powders heated at 1,200 oC; in these powders, a single phase of Lu2Si2O7 (LPS) was observed. Cerium doped lutetium pyrosilicate (LPS) powder was agglomerated and constituted of small spherical particles with diameters of about 300 nm. The photoluminescence spectra of the Lu2Si2O7:Ce3+ powders showed the characteristic of excitation and there was an emission spectrum for Ce3+ in the host of Lu2Si2O7. The emission spectrum shows a broad band in the range of 350-525 nm; the broad wavelength on the right side of the spectra should be ascribed to the same 5d-4f transitions of Ce3+, as in the case of cerium doped Lu2Si2O7 single crystals.

본 연구는 고상폐기물인 준설토와 혼합물질인 점토 및 유리프리트를 이용하여 기능성을 갖는 건축자재용으로의 재활용 가능성을 검토하고자 실시되었다. D항만 준설토의 중금속 함량은 Zn이 526.0~13,150.1 mg/kg의 범위를 나타내는 등 심한 오염상태이었다. 준설토(30P)의 주요 화학조성은 SiO₂(48.30 wt%), Al₂O₃(16.60 wt%), CaO(10.10 wt%), Fe₂O₃(7.75 wt%)이었으며, 점토는 SiO₂가 70.82 wt%, Al₂O₃ 18.78 wt%, 유리프리트는 SiO₂가 71.75 wt%, CaO 13.99 wt%, Na₂O 8.51 wt% 함유되어 있었다. 준설토를 점토에 10~40 wt% 첨가한 후 1,000℃와 1,100℃에서 소성한 시편의 압축 강도는 각각 132.6~178.5 kgf/cm2와 581.2~793.7 kgf/cm²이었다. 준설토가 40 wt% 첨가된 경우 (SC46) 1,100℃에서 소성한 경우가 793.7 kgf/cm²로 1,000℃에서 소성한 경우의 153.0 kgf/cm² 보다 5배 이상 높게 나타나 1,100℃ 온도가 소성에 더 적합한 것으로 판단되었으며, KS 1종벽돌 기준을 만족시켰다. 또한, 시편의 용출시험 결과 폐기물관리법상 지정폐기물 판정기준치를 크게 하회하는 것으로 나타났다.