Conventionally, metal materials are produced by subtractive manufacturing followed by melting. However, there has been an increasing interest in additive manufacturing, especially metal 3D printing technology, which is relatively inexpensive because of the absence of complicated processing steps. In this study, we focus on the effect of varying powder size on the synthesis quality, and suggest optimum process conditions for the preparation of AlCrFeNi high-entropy alloy powder. The SEM image of the as-fabricated specimens show countless, fine, as-synthesized powders. Furthermore, we have examined the phase and microstructure before and after 3D printing, and found that there are no noticeable changes in the phase or microstructure. However, it was determined that the larger the powder size, the better the Vickers hardness of the material. This study sheds light on the optimization of process conditions in the metal 3D printing field.

Oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloy has been developed to increase the mechanical strength of metallic materials; such an improvement can be realized by distributing fine oxide particles within the material matrix. In this study, the ODS layer was formed in the surface region of Zr-based alloy tubes by laser beam treatment. Two kinds of Zr-based alloys with different alloying elements and microstructures were used: KNF-M (recrystallized) and HANA-6 (partial recrystallized). To form the ODS layer, Y2O3-coated tubes were scanned by a laser beam, which induced penetration of Y2O3 particles into the substrates. The thickness of the ODS layer varied from 20 to 55 μm depending on the laser beam conditions. A heat affected zone developed below the ODS layer; its thickness was larger in the KNF-M alloy than in the HANA-6 alloy. The ring tensile strengths of the KNF-M and HANA-6 alloy samples increased more than two times and 20–50%, respectively. This procedure was effective to increase the strength while maintaining the ductility in the case of the HANA-6 alloy samples; however, an abrupt brittle facture was observed in the KNF-M alloy samples. It is considered that the initial microstructure of the materials affects the formation of ODS and the mechanical behavior.

Cr-Al alloys are attracting attention as oxidation resistant coating materials for high temperature metallic materials due to their excellent high temperature stability. However, the mechanical properties and oxidation resistance of Cr-Al alloys can be further enhanced, and such attempts are made in this study. To improve the properties of Cr-Al alloys, Si is added up to 5 wt%. Casting specimens with different amounts of Si content are prepared by a vacuum arc remelting method and isothermally heated under steam conditions at 1,100oC for 1 hour. The as-cast microstructure of low Si alloys is mainly composed of only a Cr phase, while Al8Cr5 and Cr3Si phases are also observed in the 5% Si alloy. In the high Si alloy, only Cr and Cr3Si phases remain after the isothermal heating at 1,100oC. It is found that Si additions slightly decrease the oxidation resistance of the Cr-Al alloy. However, the microhardness of the Cr-Al alloy is observed to increase with an increasing Si content.

In this study, the coating of an Al-Cr layer on the surface of a Zircaloy-4 alloy was carried out through plasma pretreatment coating and a laser surface melting process. Two different conditions for laser treatment, severe or minimal surface melting of the Zr alloy substrate, were applied to form the final coating. When there was significant surface melting of the Zr alloy, the solidification microstructure of the newly formed coating layer was mainly composed of needle-shaped Al3Zr, Al(Cr) and Al7Cr phases. On the other hand, the solidification microstructure of the coating layer was mainly composed of Al(Cr) and Al7Cr phases when there was minimal surface melting of Zr base in the laser process. However, when the coating was maintained at 1100 oC for 2 hours, significant inter-diffusion occurred between the phases in the coating. As a result, the upper part of the coating layer was observed to mainly consist of Al3Zr and Al8Cr5 phases, regardless of the laser treatment conditions.

The effects of Nb and Cr addition on the microstructure, corrosion and oxide characteristics of Zr based alloys wereinvestigated. The corrosion tests were performed in a pressurized water reactor simulated-loop system at 360oC. Themicrostructures were examined using OM and TEM, and the oxide properties were characterized by low-angle X-ray diffractionand TEM. The corrosion test results up to 360 days revealed that the corrosion rates were considerably affected by Cr contentbut not Nb content. The corrosion resistance of the Zr-xNb-0.1Sn-yCr quaternary alloys was improved by an increasing Nb/Cr ratio. The crystal structure of the precipitates was affected by a variation of the Nb/Cr ratio. The Zr-Nb beta-enrichedprecipitates were mainly formed in the high Nb/Cr ratio alloy while Zr(NbCr)2 precipitates were frequently observed in the lowNb/Cr ratio alloy. The studies of oxide characteristics revealed that the corrosion resistance was related to the crystal structureof the precipitate.

Process conditions for the impregnation of polycarbosilane preceramic polymer into SiC-based composites were investigated. Two kinds of preceramic polymer (PCP) was impregnated into SiC-fiber fabrics with different solvents of n-hexane and divinylbenzene (DVB). Both microstructural observations and mechanical tests were conducted to evaluate the impregnation. The matrix phases were particulated in the case of hexane solvents. Apparent relative density of the matrix was about 78.8%. The density of matrix was increased to about 96.1-98.8% when the DVB was used; however, brittle fracture was observed during a bending test. The modulus of toughness was less than 0.74J/m3. The fabric impregnated with a mixed PCP-dissolved solution showed intermediate characteristics with relative high density of filling (apparent density of ~96.1%) as well as proper bending behavior. The modulus of toughness was increased to about 5.31J/m3. The composites developed by changing the precursor and solvent suggested the possibility of fabricating SiCf/SiC composites without a fiber to matrix interphase coating.

고연소도 핵연료피복관용 신합금 재료를 개발하기 위한 연구로 Zr-0.8Sn-xNb(x = 0.2,0.4,0.8, 1.0) 계 합금을 제조하여 Nb 첨가량이 Zr 합금의 미세구조 및 부식특성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 미세조직 관찰결과 Nb첨가량이 증가함에 따라 결정립의 크기는 강소하였고 석출물의 량은 증가하였다. 360˚C 물 분위기에서 부식시험 한 결과 Nb 함량이 적을수록 부식저항성이 증가하는 경향을 나타냈으며며, Zr-0.8Sn-0.2Nb 합금이 가장 우수한 부식저항성을 보였다. 동얼 두께의 산화막에 대하여 XRD 분석한 결과, 내식성이 우수한 0.2 wt.% Nb 합금에서는 산화막내 tetra-ZrO2의 분율이 높게 관찰되었다. 합금설계 관점에서 Zr-O.8Sn-xNb 합금계에 Nb올 첨가할때 Nb은 고용도 이하로 첨가되어야 한다고 사료된다.

Zircaloy-4와 Zr-2.5Nb 합금의 부식에 미치는 냉각속도와 소둔온도의영향을 조사하기 위해서 여러 가지 방법으로 열처리된 시편에 대해서 autoclave 부식시험을 실시하였다. 냉각속도의 영향을 조사하기 위해서 시편을 1050˚C에서 30분 가열 후 염빙수냉, 수냉, 유냉, 공냉, 노냉의 방법에 의해 열처리하였으며, 소둔온도의 영향을 조사하기 위해서 α온도, α+β온도, β온도구역에서 열처리하였다. 500˚C부식시험 결과, Zircaloy-4합금에서는 nodule형 부식이 발생되는 반면에 Zr-2.5Nb 합금에서는 nodule형 부식이 발생되지 않았다. Zirfcaloy-4 합금에서는 nodule형 부식이 발생되는 반면에 Zr-2.5Nb 합금에서는 nodule형 부식이 발생되지 않았다. Zircaloy-4합금은 냉각속도가 빠를수록 내식성이 증가하는 반면에 Zr-2.5Nb합금은 냉각속도가 빠를수록 내식성이 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 또한 소둔온도가 증가할수록 Zr-2.5Nb 합금의 내식성은 감소하는 결과를 보였다. Zircaloy-4의 내식성은 Fe, Cr 원소의 기지내 분포와 석출물의 분포에 의해 지배를 받으며 Zr-2.5Nb 합금의 내식성은 기지조직내의 Nb 농도와 β-Nb상에 의해 지배를 받는 것으로 사료된다.

한국 4균주와 일본 3균주에 대한 진성 저항성 유전자가 단일 혹은 복수로 집적되어 있는 근동질 저항성 유전자계통의 생육시기별 저항성 반응을 검정한 결과를 보면 다음과 같다. 1. 유묘기때, 단일 진성저항성 유전자를 갖는 근동질 유전자 계통들은 한국 균주 K1 균주에 대해 대부분 저항성 반응을 보인 반면, K2,K3 및 K3a는 이병성 반응을 보이는 계통들이 많았다. IRBB5(xa5)만이 4균주 모두에 대해 고도의 저항성을 보였다. 한편, 일본 균주 접종에 대한 반응도 한국 균주의 반응과 유사하였다. 2. 최고분얼기때, 근동질 유전자 계통들의 K1,K3a 균주에 대한 반응은 유묘기와 유사하였으며, K2,K3 균주에 대해서는 유묘기와 비교하여 중도저항성 및 저항성으로 반응하였다. 일본의 RaceI, II 균주는 대부분의 근동질 유전자 계통들이 유묘기 보다 저항성 정도가 증대 되었으나, RaceIII균주는 감수성으로 반응하였다. 모든 균주에 고도의 저항성을 보인 계통은 IRBB205(xa5), IRBB207(Xa7)이었다. 3. 출수기때, Xa1, xa8, Xa10을 보유한 계통들은 K2 균주에 이병성으로 반응하였지만, 다른 근동질 유전자 계통들은 K1,K2 및 K3 균주에 대해 고도의 저항성 반응을 보였다. 이에 반해, K3a는 Xa1, Xa2, Xa3, xa8, Xa10, Xa11 및 xa13을 보유한 계통을 가해하였다. 일본의 RaceI, II, III 균주는 최고분얼기때의 반응과 유사하였다. xa5를 갖는 IRBB5, IRBB105 및 IRBB205 계통은 모든 검정균주에 대해 저항성으로 반응하였다. 4. 2개 이상의 진성 저항성 유전자를 갖는 계통들은 벼 생육시기 전 과정에서 벼흰잎마름병균에 대해 저항성 정도가 현저하게 증가되었다. 결론적으로, 저항성의 안정화를 위해서는 Xa4, xa5, Xa7 등의 유전자의 집적이 유용할 것으로 판단된다.