The initial sintering behaviour of the powder injection molded (PIMed) W-l5wt%Cu nanocomposite powder was investigated. The W-Cu nanocomposite powder was produced by the mechanochemical process consisting of high energy ball-milling and hydrogen reduction of W blue powder-CuO mixture. Solid state sintering of the powder compacts was conducted at for 2~10 hours in hydrogen at mosphere. The sintering behaviour was examined and discussed in terms of microstructural developments such as W-Cu aggregate formation, pore size distribution and W grain growth. The volume shrinkage of PIM specimen was slightly larger than that of PM(conventional PM specimen), being due to fast local densification in the PIM. Remarkable decrease of carbon and oxygen in the PIM enhanced local densification in the early stage of solid state sintering process with eliminating very fine pores less than 10 nm. In addition, such local densiflcation in the PIM is presumably responsible for mitigating of W-grain growth in the initial stage.

The synthesis of W-l5wt%Cu nanocomposite powder by hydrogen reduction of ball milled W-Cu oxide mixture was investigated in terms of powder characteristics such as particle size, mixing homogeneity and micropore structure. It is found that the micropores in the ball milled oxide (2-50 nm in size) act as an effective removal path of water vapor, followed by the formation of dry atmosphere at reaction zone. Such thermodynamic condition enhances the nucleation of W phase but suppresses the growth process, being in favor of the formation of W nanoparticles (about 21 nm in size). In addition, the superior mixing homogeneity of starting oxide mixture turned out to Play a significant role for forming extraordinary chemical homogeneity of W-l5wt%Cu nanocomposite powder.

원자력발전소 콘크리트 구조물은 해안가에 접해 있으며, 해수를 취수하여 냉각수로 사용하기 때문에 염해에 의한 내구성은 매우 중요하다. 이를 위해 3년간의 염해 장기침지시험을 실시하여 염화물이온확산계수의 변화 및 재령계수(m)을 평가한 결과 4,000 Class인 구조물 기초의 m은 0.35~0.39로 KCI나 ACI 제안값과 유사한 결과를 나타내었고 5,000 Class인 필수 냉각수 구조물 및 터널은 0.44~0.53, 6,000 Class인 원자로 격납건물은 0.62로 FIB 제안값과 유사하였다. 실측된 재령계수로 내구수명을 예측한 결과 원전의 모든 안전관련 콘크리트 구조물은 설계수명 60년 이상을 만족하는 것으로 나타났다.