The microstructure and mechanical properties of nanocomposites synthesized by chemical processing were investigated. The nanocomposites containing 15 vol% hexagonal BN (h-BN) were fabricated by hot-pressing powders covered with turbostratic BN (t-BN). The t-BN coating on particles was prepared by heating particles covered with a mixture of boric acid and urea in hydrogen gas. TEM observations of this nanocomposite revealed that nano-sized h-BN particles were homogeneously dispersed within grains as well as at grain boundaries. The strength and thermal shock resistance were significantly improved in comparison with the microcomposites.

An optimum route to fabricate the ferrous alloy dispersed nanocomposites such as /Fe-Ni and /Fe-Co with sound microstructure and desired properties was investigated. The composites were fabricated by the sintering of powder mixtures of and nano-sized ferrous alloy, in which the alloy was prepared by solution-chemistry routes using metal nitrates powders and a subsequent hydorgen reduction process. Microstructural observation of reduced powder mixture revealed that the Fe-Ni or Fe-Co alloy particles of about 20 nm in size homogeneously surrounded , forming nanocomposite powder. The sintered /Fe-Ni composite showed the formation of Fe phase, while the reaction phases were not observed in /Fe-Co composite. Hot-pressed /Fe-Ni composite showed improved mechanical properties and magnetic response. The properties are discussed in terms of microstructural characteristics such as the distribution and size of alloy particles.

다발체 형성과 인발 공정으로 제조된 Cu-Nb 필라멘트 미세복합재료의 기계적 전기적 특성에 대하여 연구하였다. Nb의 함량이 증가함에 따라 강도는 점차 증가하였으나 연성은 Nb의 함량에 무관하였다. 293K와 75K에서의 항복강도의 비율은 Cu-Nb 미세복합재료의 Young의 계수 비율과 비슷하게 관찰되었다. 이러한 사실은 주로 장범위 방해물(athermal obstacles)들이 Cu-Nb 마세복합재료의 강도에 영향을 미친다는 것을 의미한다. 파면 조직관찰 결과는 Cu-Nb 미세복합재료는 Nb의 함량에 판관계없이 연성파괴의 특성을 나타내었으며, 부전선재 (subelematal wires)사이의 계면을 따라 발생하는 2차크랙 (secondary crack) 의 양은 Nb 함량이 증가함에 따라 증가하였다. 전기 전도도와 비저항비 (ρ293k/rho75k)는 Nb 함량이 증가할수록 감소하였다. 이와 같은 Nb함량에 따른 전기전도도와 비저항비의 감소는 계면산란의 기여도가 증가하였기 때문이다.

An optimum route to fabricate the nanocomposites with sound microstructure and improved mechanical properties was investigated. Microstructural investigations for the composites prepared using -nitrate showed that fine Cu particles with average size of 150 nm were homogeneously distributed within the matrix grains and at the grain boundaries. Fracture strength of 953 MPa and toughness of 4.8 Mpa(equation omitted)m were measured for the composite. The strengthening and toughening of the composites are explained by the refinement of the microstructure and the crack bridging/deflection, respectively.

In this study, the fabrication of /5vol.%Cu nanocomposite and its mechanical property were discussed. The nanocomposite powders were produced by high energy ball milling of and Cu elemental powders. The ball-milled powders were sintered with Pulse Electric Current Sintering (PECS) facility. The relative densities of specimens sintered at and after soaking process at were 96% and over 97%, respectively. The sintered microstructures were composed of matrix and the nano-sized Cu particles distributed on grain boundaries of matrix. The nanocomposite exhibited the enhanced fracture toughness compared with general monolithic . The toughness increase was explained by the crack deflection and bridging by dispersed Cu particles.

In purpose of introducing the inverse magnetostrictive properties into the structural ceramics, based nanocomposites dispersed with nano-sized Ni-Co particles were studied. The composites were fabricated by the hydrogen reduction and hot-pressing of and NiO-CoO mixed powders. The mixtures were prepared by using Ni- and Co-nitrate as source materials for the Ni-Co particles. Microstructural observations revealed that nano-sized Ni-Co particles were dispersed homogeneously at grain boundaries. High strength above 1 GPa was obtained for the wt% Ni-Co nanocomposite fabricated by a controlled powder preparation process. The inverse magnetostrictive response to applied stress was obtained due to the presence of dispersed Ni-Co particles, which indicates a possibility to incorporate new functions into the structural ceramics without loosing the mechanical properties.

Background : Zinc (Zn) is one of dietary micronutrients and it is second highest trace element in the body. Over 95% of Zn is located in the cells, but its dominant storage site is absent in the body. Deficiency of Zn may result in anorexia, dysgeusia, dysosmia, skin rash, infection, alopecia, growth failure, and impaired wound healing. Therefore, adequate supplementation of Zn is very important to maintain normal physiological conditions. Methods and Results : Zinc sulfate monohydrate (ZnSO4)-loaded nanocomposites (NCs) were fabricated by using a hot-melt extruder (HME) system. Soluplus (SP) was adopted as an amphiphilic polymer matrix for HME processing. The micro-size of ZnSO4 dispersion was reduced to nano-size by HME processing with the use of SP. ZnSO4 could be homogeneously dispersed in SP through HME processing. ZnSO4/SP NCs with a 75 ㎚ mean diameter, a 0.1 polydispersity index, and a -1 mV zeta potential value were prepared. The physicochemical properties of ZnSO4/SP NCs and the existence of SP in ZnSO4/SP NCs were further investigated by solid-state studies. Nano-size range of ZnSO4/SP NC dispersion was maintained in the simulated gastrointestinal environments (pH 1.2 and 6.8 media). No severe toxicity in intestinal epithelium after oral administration of ZnSO4/SP NCs (at 100 ㎎/㎏ dose of ZnSO4, single dosing) was observed in rats. Conclusion : These results imply that developed ZnSO4/SP NC can be used as a promising nano-sized zinc supplement formulation. In addition, developed HME technology can be widely applied to fabricate nano formulations of inorganic materials.