The prediction of Jominy hardness curves and the effect of alloying elements on the hardenability of boron steels (19 different steels) are investigated using multiple regression analysis. To evaluate the hardenability of boron steels, Jominy end quenching tests are performed. Regardless of the alloy type, lath martensite structure is observed at the quenching end, and ferrite and pearlite structures are detected in the core. Some bainite microstructure also appears in areas where hardness is sharply reduced. Through multiple regression analysis method, the average multiplying factor (regression coefficient) for each alloying element is derived. As a result, B is found to be 6308.6, C is 71.5, Si is 59.4, Mn is 25.5, Ti is 13.8, and Cr is 24.5. The valid concentration ranges of the main alloying elements are 19 ppm < B < 28 ppm, 0.17 < C < 0.27 wt%, 0.19 < Si < 0.30 wt%, 0.75 < Mn < 1.15 wt%, 0.15 < Cr < 0.82 wt%, and 3 < N < 7 ppm. It is possible to predict changes of hardenability and hardness curves based on the above method. In the validation results of the multiple regression analysis, it is confirmed that the measured hardness values are within the error range of the predicted curves, regardless of alloy type.

The microstructural evolution and modulation of mechanical properties were investigated for a Ti65Fe35 hypereutectic alloy by addition of Bi53In47 eutectic alloys. The microstructure of these alloys changed with the additional Bi- In elements from a typical dendrite-eutectic composite to a bimodal eutectic structure with primary dendrite phases. In particular, the primary dendrite phase changed from a TiFe intermetallic compound into a β-Ti solid solution despite their higher Fe content. Compressive tests at room temperature demonstrated that the yield strength slightly decreased but the plasticity evidently increased with an increasing Bi-In content, which led to the formation of a bimodal eutectic structure (β-Ti/TiFe + β- Ti/BiIn containing phase). Furthermore, the (Ti65Fe35)95(Bi53In47)5 alloy exhibited optimized mechanical properties with high strength (1319MPa) and reasonable plasticity (14.2%). The results of this study indicate that the transition of the eutectic structure, the type of primary phases and the supersaturation in the β-Ti phase are crucial factors for controlling the mechanical properties of the ultrafine dendrite-eutectic composites.

This present study deals with the effect of micro-alloying elements and transformation temperature on the correlation of microstructure and tensile properties of low-carbon steels with ferrite-pearlite microstructure. Six kinds of lowcarbon steel specimens were fabricated by adding micro-alloying elements of Nb, Ti and V, and by varying isothermal transformation temperature. Ferrite grain size of the specimens containing mirco-alloying elements was smaller than that of the Base specimens because of pinning effect by the precipitates of carbonitrides at austenite grain boundaries. The pearlite interlamellar spacing and cementite thickness decreased with decreasing transformation temperature, while the pearlite volume fraction was hardly affected by micro-alloying elements and transformation temperature. The room-temperature tensile test results showed that the yield strength increased mostly with decreasing ferrite grain size and elongation was slightly improved as the ferrite grain size and pearlite interlamellar spacing decreased. All the specimens exhibited a discontinuous yielding behavior and the yield point elongation of the Nb4 and TiNbV specimens containing micro-alloying elements was larger than that of the Base specimens, presumably due to repetitive pinning and release of dislocation by the fine precipitates of carbonitrides.

In this study, recrystallization behaviors in the two-phase (α+γ) region of micro-alloyed steels such as Base, Nb, TiNbV and CAlN were investigated in terms of flow stress, microstructure and associated grain boundary characteristics. The flow stress of all specimens reached peak stress and gradually decreased, which means that recrystallization or recovery of proeutectoid deformed ferrite and recovery or transformation to ferrite of deformed austenite occurred by thermal activation. The precipitation of carbide or nitride via the addition of micro-alloying elements, because it reduced prior austenite grain size upon austenitization, promoted transformation of austenite to ferrite and increased flow stress. The strain-induced precipitation under deformation in the two-phase region, on the other hand, increased the flow stress when the micro-alloying elements were dissolved during austenitization. The recrystallization of the Nb specimen was more effectively retarded than that of the TiNbV specimen during deformation in the two-phase region.

The present study deals with the effects of micro-alloying elements such as Ni, V, and Ti on the recrystallization behavior of carbon steels at different strain rates. Eight steel specimens were fabricated by varying the chemical composition and reheating temperature; then, a high-temperature compressive deformation test was conducted in order to investigate the relationship of the microstructure and the recrystallization behavior. The specimens containing micro-alloying elements had smaller prior austenite grain sizes than those of the other specimens, presumably due to the pinning effect of the formation of carbonitrides and AlN precipitates at the austenite grain boundaries. The high-temperature compressive deformation test results indicate that dynamic recrystallization behavior was suppressed in the specimens with micro-alloying elements, particularly at increased strain rate, because of the pinning effect of precipitates, grain boundary dragging and lattice misfit effects of solute atoms, although the strength increased with increasing strain rate.

To alloy high melting point elements such as boron, ruthenium, and iridium with copper, heat treatment was performed using metal oxides of B2O3, RuO2, and IrO2 at the temperature of 1200 oC in vacuum for 30 minutes. The microstructure analysis of the alloyed sample was confirmed using an optical microscope and FE-SEM. Hardness and trace element analyses were performed using Vickers hardness and WD-XRF, respectively. Diffusion profile analysis was performed using D-SIMS. From the microstructure analysis results, crystal grains were found to have formed with sizes of 2.97 mm. For the copper alloys formed using metal oxides of B2O3, RuO2, and IrO2 the sizes of the crystal grains were 1.24, 1.77, and 2.23 mm, respectively, while these sizes were smaller than pure copper. From the Vickers hardness results, the hardness of the Ir-copper alloy was found to have increased by a maximum of 2.2 times compared to pure copper. From the trace element analysis, the copper alloy was fabricated with the expected composition. From the diffusion profile analysis results, it can be seen that 0.059 wt%, 0.030 wt%, and 0.114 wt% of B, Ru, and Ir, respectively, were alloyed in the copper, and it led to change the hardness. Therefore, we verified that alloying of high melting point elements is possible at the low temperature of 1200 oC.

In this study, to confirm the effect of alloying elements on the phase transformation and conditions of the friction stir process, we processed two materials, SS400 and SM45C steels, by a friction stir process (FSP) under various conditions. We analyzed the mechanical properties and microstructure of the friction stir processed zone of SS400 and SM45C steels processed under 400RPM - 100mm/min conditions. We detected no macro (tunnel defect) or micro (void, micro crack) defects in the specimens. The grain refinement in the specimens occurred by dynamic recrystallization and stirring. The microstructure at the friction stir processed zone of the SS400 specimen consisted of an α-phase. On the other hand, the microstructure at the friction stir processed zone of the SM45 specimen consisted of an α-phase, Fe3C and martensite due to a high cooling rate and high carbon content. Furthermore, the hardness and impact absorption energy of the friction stir processed zone were higher than those of base metals. The hardness and impact absorption energy of FSPed SM45C were higher than that of FSPed SS400. Our results confirmed the effect of alloying elements on the phase transformation and mechanical properties of the friction stir processed zone.

The effect of interstitial elements on the ductile-brittle transition behavior of austenitic Fe-18Cr-10Mn-2Ni alloys with different nitrogen and carbon contents was investigated in this study. All the alloys exhibited ductile-brittle transition behavior because of unusual low-temperature brittle fracture, even though they have a faced-centered cubic structure. With the same interstitial content, the combined addition of nitrogen and carbon, compared to the sole addition of nitrogen, improved the low-temperature toughness and thus decreased the ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) because this combined addition effectively enhances the metallic component of the interatomic bonds and is accompanied by good plasticity and toughness due to the increased free electron concentration. The increase in carbon content or of the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, however, could increase the DBTT since either of these causes the occurrence of intergranular fracture that lead to the deterioration of the toughness at low temperatures. The secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis results for the observation of carbon and nitrogen distributions confirms that the carbon and nitrogen atoms were significantly segregated to the austenite grain boundaries and then caused grain boundary embrittlement. In order to successfully develop austenitic Fe-Cr-Mn alloys for low-temperature application, therefore, more systematic study is required to determine the optimum content and ratio of carbon and nitrogen in terms of free electron concentration and grain boundary embrittlement.

In this study, STS 316L powders with 3 wt.% Cu and 1 wt.% Sn known as corrosion-resistance reinforce- ment elements, are prepared to make different kinds of specimens, in which, 3 wt.% Cu and 1 wt.% Sn are added in different forms by mixing, alloying and fully alloying. After sintering in the same condition, the corrosion resistance, wear resistance and their mechanical properties of specimens are tested respectively. According to the comparison, STS 316L specimen sintered at 1270o C showed the most excellent mechanical property: HRB 78 (hardness), 1130.7 MPa (RCS), 26.6% (Fraction Wear), It was similar with the specimen made of STS316L and fully alloyed Cu and Sn pow- ders, meanwhile, the latter one appears the best corrosion resistance, 75hrs-salt immersion test results. In addition, the specimens with Cu and Sn powders additive showed relatively worse wear resistance in compared with STS316L spec- imen.

Recently, various attempts to produce a heat sink made of Al 6xxx alloys have been carried out using die-casting. In order to apply die-casting, the Al alloys should be verified for die-soldering ability with die steel. It is generally well known that both Fe and Mn contents have effects on decreasing die soldering, especially with aluminum alloys containing substantial amounts of Si. However, die soldering has not been widely studied for the low Si aluminum (1.0~2.0wt%) alloys. Therefore, in this study, an investigation was performed to consider how the soldering phenomena were affected by Fe and Mn contents in low Si aluminum alloys. Each aluminum alloy was melted and held at 680˚C. Then, STD61 substrate was dipped for 2 hr in the melt. The specimens, which were air cooled, were observed using a scanning electron microscope and were line analyzed by an electron probe micro analyzer. The SEM results of the dipping soldering test showed an Al-Fe inter-metallic layer in the microstructure. With increasing Fe content up to 0.35%, the Al-Fe inter-metallic layer became thicker. In Al-1.0%Si alloy, the additional content of Mn also increased the thickness of the inter-metallic layer compared to that in the alloy without Mn. In addition, EPMA analysis showed that Al-Fe inter-metallic compounds such as Al2Fe, Al3Fe, and Al5Fe2 formed in the die soldering layers.

In this study, the effect of Sn and Mg on microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu-Fe-P alloy were investigated by using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, tensile strength, electrical conductivity, thermal softening, size and distribution of the precipitation phases in order to satisfy characteristic for lead frame material. It was observed that Cu-0.14wt%Fe-0.03wt%P-0.05wt%Si-0.1wt%Zn with Sn and Mg indicates increasing tensile strength compare with PMC90 since Sn restrained the growth of the Fe-P precipitation phase on the matrix. However, the electrical conductivity was decreased by adding addition of Sn and Mg because Sn was dispersed on the matrix and restrained the growth of the Fe-P precipitation. The size of 100 nm Mg3P2 precipitation phase was observed having lattice parameter a:12.01Å such that [111] zone axis. According to the results of the study, the tensile strength and the electrical conductivity satisfied the requirements of lead frame; so, there is the possibility of application as a substitution material for lead frame of Cu alloy.

This study looked at high performance copper-based alloys as LED lead frame materials with higher electrical-conductivity and the maintenance of superior tensile strength. This study investigated the effects on the tensile strength, electrical conductivity, thermal softening, size and distribution of the precipitation phases when Cr was added in Cu-Fe alloy in order to satisfy characteristics for LED Lead Frame material. Strips of the alloys were produced by casting and then properly treated to achieve a thickness of 0.25 mm by hot-rolling, scalping, and cold-rolling; mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness and electrical-conductivity were determined and compared. To determine precipitates in alloy that affect hardness and electrical-conductivity, electron microscope testing was also performed. Cr showed the effect of precipitation hardened with a Cr3Si precipitation phase. As a result of this experiment, appropriate aging temperature and time have been determined and we have developed a copper-based alloy with high tensile strength and electrical-conductivity. This alloy has the possibility for use as a substitution material for the LED Lead Frame of Cu alloy.

A series of experiments demonstrated that an addition of Ag into (Cu0.5Zr0.5)100-xAgx amorphous alloys alters the plasticity of the alloys in a systematic manner. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) conducted on the (Cu0.5Zr0.5)100-xAgx alloys exhibited the presence of compositional modulation, indicating that compositional separation had occurred. The presence of compositional modulation was also validated using a combined technique of molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulation. In this study, the effect of Ag on the compositional separation in (Cu0.5Zr0.5)100-xAgx bulk amorphous alloys was investigated to understand the role played by the phase-separating element on the plasticity of the amorphous alloys.