In this study, we reported the microstructure and properties of Ag- contact materials fabricated by a controlled milling process with subsequent consolidation. The milled powders were consolidated to bulk samples using a magnetic pulsed compaction process. The nano-scale phases were distributed homogeneously in the Ag matrix after the consolidation. The relative density and hardness of the Ag- contact materials were 95~96% and 89~131 Hv, respectively.

Electro-Discharge Sintering (EDS) employs a high-voltage/high-current-density pulse of electrical energy, discharged from a capacitor bank, to instantaneously consolidate powders. In the present study, a single pulse of 0.57-1.1 kJ/0.45 g-atomized spherical powders in size range of 10~30 and consisting of -(Ti, Zr) and icosahedral phases were applied to examine the structural evolution of icosahedral phase during EDS. Structural investigation reveals that high electrical input energy facilitates complete decomposition of icosahedral phase into C14 laves and -(Ti, Zr) phases. Moreover, critical input energy inducing decomposition of the icosahedral phase during EDS depends on the size of the powder. Porous Ti and W compacts have been fabricated by EDS using rectangular and spherical powders upon various input energy at a constant capacitance of in order to verify influence of powder shape on microstructure of porous compacts. Besides, generated heat () during EDS, which is measured by an oscilloscope, is closely correlated with powder size.

The electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption properties of the nanocrystalline powder mixed with 5 to 20 vol% of Ni-Zn ferrites has been investigated in a frequency range from 100MHz to 10GHz. Amorphous ribbons prepared by a planar flow casting process were pulverized and milled after annealing at 425 for 1 hour. The powder was mixed with a ferrite powder at various volume ratios to tape-cast into a 1.0mm thick sheet. Results showed that the EM wave absorption sheet with Ni-Zn ferrite powder reduced complex permittivity due to low dielectric constant of ferrite compared with nanocrystalline powder, while that with 5 vol% of ferrite showed relatively higher imaginary part of permeability. The sheet mixed with 5 vol% ferrite powder showed the best electromagnetic wave absorption properties at high frequency ranges, which resulted from the increased imaginary part of permeability due to reduced eddy current.

Four seed vetch (Vicia tetrasperma), a biennial native leguminous plant, was used for a cover crop with different quantity of sowed seeds. Weed suppression and yield were evaluated for the red pepper cultivation in the following year of the vetch seeding. Seeding of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 kg 10 a suppressed weed occurrences until late in the growing season of the red pepper. Consequently, red pepper in the cover cropping system with seeding of 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 kg 10 a- I had a similar yield to the conventional red pepper. The ideal seed rate in four seed vetch was 3.0 and 4.5 kg 10 a ’ in terms of reducing weed occurrence as well as increasing growth and yield in red pepper.